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Care management

Tips for caregivers

Daily care

Daily care plan

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Eating and Food

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Bathing

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Dressing and grooming

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Dental care

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Daily care plan

Making a plan for daily routine provides more meaningful activity and enjoyment for both patient and caregiver

Organizing the day

  • make time for yourself

  • include the patients activity that you like or enjoy

  • encourage activity that improve mood

  • always experiment and adjust the plan

  • consider the patients lifestyle

  • make a flexible plan

  • include time for daily activity such as mealtime, personal care, social

Writing a plan

  • make sure to balance between rest and activity

  • note what activities are meaningful or effective for the patient

  • note what activities create anxiety or negative experience

  • add various tasks and breaks

Eating and food

Some patients may think they have already eaten or forgot to eat. Here are possible causes of the lack of appetite and Nutrition tips for the patient

What are causes of poor appetite?

  • The patients do not recognize the food

  • issue with dentures 

  • Medication side effect

  • lack of exercise

  • loss of effectiveness of sense of smell and taste 

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Nutrition tips

  • various kinds of foods

  • low fat and cholesterol 

  • low sodium

  • low sugar

  • Stay hydrated

Bathing


Bathing can be challenging because the patient feels uncomfortable and cold stepping into the water. Some can also feel embarrassing, scared and unpleasant. As a result, they might try to avoid bathing and casing negative experiences.

Prepare the bathroom

Prepare the bathroom

  • prepare large towels to wrap around the patient for warmth and privacy

  • Bath stool/bench, shampoo, and soap are ready before giving a reminder to bath

  • adjust the room temperature to be comfortable

  • use plastic containers of shampoo to prevent stinging

  • as the patients might experience sensory change, always check the water temperature not too hot or too cold

  • may use a seat in the shower and install grab bars 

Make the patient feel comfortable

  • Give the patient choices when to bathe, such as now or in 10 minutes

  • after the patient is seated, fill the tub and always detect the patient reaction 

  • give a role to the patient, such as letting the patient hold a shampoo bottle or sponge 

  • if the patient response is negative, try to shift the focus or try again later

  • prepare soothing music or enjoyable activity such as signing 

  • decrease the feeling of vulnerability and protect privacy by covering the patient with a bath towel

  • Try different strategies to make the patient feel comfortable in the tube. For example, let them get into the tub with a bath towel 

How to give care after bathing

  • if the patient unable to move around, check for sores and rashes

  • make sure to pat the patient dry and put on new clothes while seating the patient

  • dry area between the ttoes by contton swabs

  • apply lotion to maintain the skin moisture

  • may use talcum powder or cornstarch in folds of skin

Dressing and grooming

Encouraging the patient to have a good appearance can increase more self-extreme in the patient.

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Dressing

The patient may be overwhelmed with the choices or might not remember how to dress. Spending too much time dressing might also cause frustration and anxiety. 

  • try offering simplified choices

  • give direct, simple, and straightforward instructions

  • offer comfortable clothing and shoes

  • be flexible and focus on personal hygiene

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Grooming

Some people who live with dementia may forget how to shave, clip fingernails, or comb hair.

  • keep the grooming routine

  • allow the patient use their favourite toiletries

  • perform tasks alongside the patient so that they can copy the caregiver's task

  •  prefer using simple grooming tools 

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