Emeritus Senior Living
"Caregiver Tips for Dressing a Loved One Suffering from Alzheimer's or Dementia"
Caregiver Tips for Dressing Loved Ones Suffering from Alzheimer's or Dementia
Getting dressed is an important part of everyone's self esteem, but it is also something we typically do in private. Assisting someone who has dementia with dressing can be a challenge because it is something they are used to doing independently. Here are some general tips that may help you assist your loved one with dressing.
Establish a routine that is familiar to your loved one.
- Prior to having dementia, did they get dressed before or after eating breakfast?
- In the past, have they been an early riser or late riser?
Limit choices to avoid additional confusion and overwhelming your loved one.
- Would you like to wear the red shirt or the blue shirt?
- Would you prefer blue jeans or khakis today?
Set-up before bringing your loved one into the process.
- Lay out the clothing in the order in which it will be needed.
- Put all dirty clothing from the previous day away so that it is not confused with clean clothing.
- Make sure the room is warm and lights are on.
Talk about past experiences that motivated your loved one to get ready for the day, such as going to work, going to church, taking care of the home, etc.
Go one step at a time, and go at their pace.
Tell your loved one what you are going to do, and tell them what you are doing throughout the process.
Provide for their privacy and modesty by using a bathrobe or towel while dressing.
Assisting your loved one with a personal task such as dressing, is not always easy.
More Information about Alzheimer's Disease
Learn more about Alzheimer's and Dementia in our Elder Health Guides section by reading Alzheimer's Disease: An Overview.
Back to Caregiver Tips for more tips!
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