Dealing with dementia patients isnt an easy task with one of the most difficult areas in taking care of them is supporting them to get dressed Dressing independently is sometimes just impossible for them to do Because dressing them touches a number of different areas such as their safety hygiene and social appropriateness supporting people with dementia to dress can often be a hidden challenge that doesnt get the support it deserves So what can you do about it Well thats what this article is about Read on to know the right way of helping dementia patients dress up 1 Plan it out The first thing you need to do is to plan what you want them to wear This avoids the pressure-filled feeling of picking their clothes out of their wardrobe in the morning Hang them on a hanger the night before so you know what to put on them the next day Make sure that buttons and zippers are already undone and theyre not inside out According to Jane Byrne from FirstCareie 5 to 8 of adults who are over the age of 65-years-old have dementia Unfortunately this figure doubles every five years 2 Make it appropriate with the weather People with dementia are mostly seniors which is why they need an extra layer of clothing when its cold outside See to it that theyre comfortable in the sense that they wont feel too cold or too hot If its the winter months go for vests that have front buttons so that they can easily be worn On the other hand if its summer let them wear tops that are breathable specifically those that have thin fabric 3 Let them choose When it comes to supporting someone to get dressed dignity and choice are of paramount importance It doesnt mean that you have free reign over their lives Yes they might have dementia and they are unable to do tasks normally and decide on things properly But itll help them a lot if you give them a feeling of independence even just a tiny bit Let them choose the clothes that theyd want to wear as this keeps their mind running and can help slow down the progression of the disease Labeling drawers is also a great way to help them find the clothes theyd want to wear 4 Guide them If ever the dementia patient lacks the confidence to dress themselves or just needs a bit of direction then feel free to offer them some friendly guidance Give verbal cues if needed An example would be to tell them to put their shirt on first then followed by their trousers You can also point to certain areas to tell them where they can wear their shirt or shorts 5 Stay calm and patient Dementia patients have a hard time doing things on their own which is why its important always to remain patient Dont expect too much from them because theyre most likely to fail with their first few tries Also its common for them to have a hard time dressing up because they either dont want to get out of their clothes or they find it difficult to move Just keep motivating them to try Dont show any signs of frustration Instead be positive with whatever they do whether theyre doing it right or wrong Just dont forget to correct them afterward Dementia has no cure In fact it gets worse through time However this doesnt mean that you can do nothing about it Following the tips mentioned can somehow slow down the progression of the disease and might even improve their well being Just be sure always to remain consistent and patient And yes sprinkle in a dose of TLC It helps Do you like this article Share With