If you want to help improve the overall quality of life for your loved one with dementia, you might want to consider memory care communities. If your loved one has trouble remembering how they should take their medicine or whether they just brushed their teeth, the nursing team at a memory care community in Gretna, LA, can step in and help them out. Similarly, because the professional members know every resident by name and will get familiar with what motivates them (or doesn’t), they can also offer encouragement, like reminding someone who has forgotten where their room is located! In this blog post, we discuss some ways a memory care community in Gretna, LA can help improve awareness of personal hygiene in dementia patients:
Sets a Routine for Personal Hygiene
For some residents, it may be best to keep the routine simple. Things like brushing your teeth and washing your hands are relatively easy to remember so you could make these a daily schedule. For other residents, however, it may be better to start with something more complex but still simple enough that they can handle it by themselves. You might also want to include a few steps in the routine designed for social interaction—this way, you will have time for yourself when doing personal hygiene tasks, and your loved ones will also have an opportunity to engage with you while helping with this activity.
Ensures the Bathroom Is Bright, Clean and Safe
To keep your loved one safe in the bathroom, ensure the room is bright, clean, and free of sharp edges or corners. In addition to a mirror with a magnifying glass (so that they can see themselves more clearly), you should keep items like soap and toothpaste in easy-to-reach places. If there’s too much clutter in their bathroom, it will be harder for them to navigate safely through it.
Also, ensure enough space in the bathroom for your loved one to move around comfortably when they’re getting ready each day. If they have difficulty bending over because of arthritis or other health problems, consider lowering a chair into that space so they can sit down while brushing their teeth or washing up after using the toilet.
Makes Personal Care Products Easily Accessible
As a caregiver, you can make it easier for your loved one to remember which products are theirs by creating a system that is easy for them to follow.
For example, you can store all of their personal care products in a cabinet or drawer that they can access. This way, they can find everything without asking for help each time or when they need something from their bathroom. It is also helpful to place items in easy-to-reach places where the person using them will see them first when opening up the cabinet or drawer.
You can also use labels on bottles so that your loved one knows what is inside each one – this could include photos of what’s inside and words describing its purpose (i.e., shampoo/conditioner/body wash).
Conclusion
With these tips in mind, you can help your loved one maintain their dignity and feel more comfortable. The goal is to ensure they get the care they need while maintaining their independence.
