A person living with dementia may need help with daily activities. Activities can include dressing, toileting, grooming, bathing, eating, or walking. As the disease progresses, you might wonder how to help the person, while maintaining their independence and dignity. Your approach is key. Below are strategies to help:
Guiding principles
Stick to a daily routine or schedule.
Create a comfortable, welcoming, clutter-free environment.
Set up the activity and start doing it yourself (e.g., brushing your teeth), then invite the person to join.
Avoid hurrying them.
Offer simple choices. Two options work best (e.g., soup or sandwich for lunch? Blue or black pants today? Loofah or washcloth?).
Use the person’s name when giving cues and encouragement.
Avoid explaining why the person needs to do it.
Let the person make mistakes; the goal is to connect, not correct.
Watch for signs of frustration and take breaks as needed. Try again later.
Adjust or provide additional support as the person’s dementia progresses.
Helping the person through the stages
Early stages: At first, the person may only need a cue or a reminder to start the task. Later, they may just need someone around in case they run into challenges.
Avoid taking over too quickly.
Give the person as much privacy as possible, especially in the washroom or when changing.
Avoid saying “remember” when prompting the person.
Mid stages: If you notice they need more assistance, ask first, “Is it okay if I help you?”
Break the task into smaller steps.
Use clear, simple sentences to explain what’s next. Provide verbal or physical cues to help the person stay on track.
Stay at eye level rather than standing over them..
Let the person know if you are going to touch them.
Provide assistive tools and encourage their use (e.g., install grab bars, a bath chair, a walker, a call button, sanitary products or a commode at bedside).
Late stages: After a while, the person may need help with all aspects of the task.
Keep the person involved (e.g., ask them to hold the washcloth and guide their hands).
Connect with the person through scent, smell, gentle touch, or music.
Cover the person with a blanket/cape/towel when dressing or bathing.
Take your time and avoid rushing.
Tips for specific activities
Dressing:
Choose comfortable clothing that’s easy to put on and take off.
Choose Velcro and zippers instead of buttons or ties.
Choose non-slip shoes for balance and stability.
Mobility:
Walk slightly in front of the person and use gestures to guide them.
Remove lighting that causes glare or shadows on floors.
Use nightlights or motion-sensor lights at night.
Use familiar, stable furniture that clearly shows its purpose.
Remove furniture with wheels or loose rugs
Eating/Feeding
Choose solid-coloured plates to help the person see their food.
Focus on comfort over etiquette.
Choose finger foods if needed.
If they seem overwhelmed, limit the types or amount of
food on one plate.
Bathing:
Choose the person’s favourite and most familiar toiletry brands.
Make sure the room is warm. Test the water temperature and
pressure in advance.
Be gentle and avoid scrubbing as skin may be sensitive.
Toileting:
Make the washroom easy to find. Add signs with symbols, keep the door open.
Choose clothing that’s easy to .
Limit fluid intake in the evening to prevent accidents at night.
Video Resources on How to help with…
- Getting dressed: American dementia specialist Teepa Snow demonstrates how to help someone get dressed.
- Redirecting to the washroom: Teepa Snow’s video on challenging behaviours includes a demonstration on redirecting to the washroom.
- Brushing their teeth: Teepa Snow demonstrates how to provide the best dental care for people living with dementia.
- Bathing: Teepa Snow offers tips on helping people with dementia bathe.
- Sitting down: A short simple technique on helping people with dementia to sit down, demonstrated by Teepa Snow.
- Preventing falls: This Dementia Society webinar focuses on how to reduce the risk of falls.
- Enabling Abilities: This Dementia Society webinar offers tips and strategies for enabling the abilities of those living with dementia.
Further reading:
- Progressive support for activities of daily living: This article from The Gerontologist summarizes the practices to care for early stage, middle stage, and late stage dementia needs in daily living (dressing, toileting, and eating/nutrition).
- Dementia care notes: This article from the Dementia Care Notes website describes what caregivers can do to help support normal daily activities.