ASOCIACION DE ALZHEIMER DE PUERTO RICO
|
|
Edif. Santurce Medical Mall E-Mail: alzheimerpr@alzheimerpr.org |
Alzheimer's Disease |
PERSONAL APPEARANCE
Personal presentation is important for a sense of self-esteem of everyone. For the patient with Alzheimer's disease, the simple act of getting dressed can be frustrating.
For this reason, you must manage the difficulties a person has getting dressed. There are many reasons a person with Alzheimer's disease could have problems getting dressed, including the following:
Physical Problems.
A patient can have problems with their equilibrium or motor abilities, which are necessary to button their buttons or close snaps.
Intellectual Problems.
Does the individual remember how to dress themselves?
Does he recognize his clothing?
Is he conscious of time, the hour or the season of the y year?
Environment.
Is the person afraid due to lack of privacy, a cold room, or lack of lighting or loud noises?
Other Concerns.
Is the patient being pressured into dressing quickly?
Are you giving step by step instructions on how to dress, or is the task too complicated?
Is the person embarrassed or feels humiliated to dress in front of an unknown caregiver?
Once these questions are answered, you will be in a better position to help the person dress themselves.
STEPS TO FOLLOW
Recognize the importance of dressing and the feeling of self-esteem.
Remember to dress and look presentable is important for the wellbeing and self-esteem of the patient.
Allow the Patient to Select their Own Clothing.
Put the clothing in order, including a selection appropriate for the climate.
If it is appropriate, give the person the opportunity to select their favorite clothing or colors.
If the person insists on using the same clothing every day, try to wash the clothing frequently. Get other outfits that they like. Possibly you might have to distract the person temporarily in order to take off their clothes to wash them.
Consider eliminating excessive clothing from the closet, since having too many sets of clothing could overwhelm and upset the person.
Select Practical Clothing.
Select outfits that are fast, flexible and that feel soft and smooth to the person's skin.
In general, select durable, washable and flame retardant outfits
Consider using Outfits with Elastic.
Remember that ribbons or velcro can be a substitute for buttons, clips or hooks.
Many caregivers prefer sweat clothes that are washable, comfortable and less complicated to close or button.
Pay Attention to their Feet.
For the patient's feet to have enough support, insist on using regular shoes instead of slippers.
Shoe styles with elastic on the top do not need to close and are easy to put on and take off.
Tennis shoes can avoid falls. In case the person's feet swell, have on hand another pair of shoes. The shoes must be wide enough to use with socks and maintain their feet warm.
Help the Patient Dress.
Give simple instructions easy to understand. Select outfits that the person can dress themselves with, as many times as possible.
Put the clothing in order that the person will use them. Right away, help in each step during the dressing process.
Comfortable and Convenient Outfits.
Select comfortable, loose clothing that is easy to put on and take off.
Many caregivers find that sweaters with buttons or closures are more comfortable to put on and take off than those without them.
To avoid tripping and falling assure that the clothing is appropriate.
Adapt Regular Clothing to the Necessities of the Patient.
If the patient is confined to a wheel chair, you could adapt their regular clothing to protect their privacy and give them more comfort.
Assure that the clothing fits loosely, especially at the waistline and hips, selecting soft, smooth stretchy material.
Adjust to Problems with Incontinence.
If incontinence is a problem for the patient, assure that the clothing is easy to take off and take care of that.
Some caregivers purchase protective diapers. You may want to add additional protection to their regular clothing, putting a cover on the backside of dresses or material or towel to pants.
Helping the Alzheimer patient in their nutrition and dressing, will allow them to maintain a positive feeling of dignity and self-confidence. It is important to remember to allow the person the routine of dressing themselves regularly as much as possible.
Main Menu | Board of Directors | Our Mission | Support Group Meetings
Please send any suggestion, comment or problem to
alzheimerpr@alzheimerpr.org
