Bathing Resistance

Bathing Resistance

The 30 sources listed below are each rated on how they can help caregivers better understand and deal with resistance to bathing in people with Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

We also have a section on normal Bathing routine under Daily Living.

Sources are ranked from highest to lowest.
ALZSmart Score™ - Excellent85%

Crisis Prevention Institute

Kim Warchol, President and Founder of Dementia Care Specialists

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Includes many insights into resistive behaviors experienced during bathing or showing.  Describes 4 common difficult behaviors exhibited during bathing.  Discusses 5 likely triggers or causes for refusing to bath.  Lists 6 strategies with 23 bullets points to reduce the frequency and severity of resistance to bathing.  This article was written from the point-of-view of a professional therapist.
Tips to Reduce Bathing and Showering Challenges—A Therapist's Role
ALZSmart Score™ - Excellent85%

Dementia Sherpa

Christy Turner

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

[Video 15:08]  Begins by explaining eleven reasons why people might resist bathing.  Discusses the 'secret sauce' to overcoming the obstacles with a wide variety of options available to caregivers.
How To Get A Person Living with Dementia To Take A Shower
ALZSmart Score™ - Excellent85%

The 36-Hour Day (6th Edition)

Nancy L. Mace, MA and Peter V. Rabins, MD, MPH

Pages 91-94

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Discusses of reasons for resistence to bathing.  Also has tips and techniques to overcome them.  This book is a guide designed for family caregivers.
The 36-Hour Day (6th Edition)
ALZSmart Score™ - Excellent85%

Surviving Alzheimer's (2nd Edition)

Paula Spencer Scott

Pages 227-230

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Follows the 'Why and Try' approach.  The 'why' factors include 7 bullet points that may contribute to refusing to bathe.  The 'try' section includes 21 bullet point suggestions that can lead you to insights, understanding, and solutions.
Surviving Alzheimer's (2nd Edition)
ALZSmart Score™ - Excellent85%

Coping With Behavior Change in Dementia: A Family Caregiver's Guide

Beth Spencer and Laurie White

Pages 26-31

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

This is thorough and wide ranging with about 60 bullet points on the resistence to bathing issue.  Discusses physical, medical, and emotional causes for bathing problems and strategies to try.  Looks at environmental causes and strategies. Touches on safety and communication.  Also has 18 bullet points on ensuring comfort and privacy.
Coping With Behavior Change in Dementia:  A Family Caregiver's Guide
ALZSmart Score™ - Excellent80%

Caregiver Relief

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Begins by discussing probable causes of resistence to bathing.  Briefly describes about 20 coping strategies.  Also has additional 20 bullet points on safety and other considerations.
Alzheimer’s Problems with Bathing
ALZSmart Score™ - Excellent80%

Alzheimer’s Research Association

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Begins by describing some of the challenging behaviors that can happen during bathing.  Lists 9 ways of preparing the bathroom in advance.  Provides 7 tips on assessing abilities.  Has 9 bullet points you can use to help the person with Alzheimer's feel more in control.  Offers 11 ways you can adapt the bathing process.  Also has several tips on after-bath care, bathing alternatives, and bathroom safety.
Bathing
ALZSmart Score™ - Excellent80%

Alzheimer Society Canada

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Starts by exploring 6 possible reasons for reluctance to bathe. Identifies 12 things to make bathing more pleasant and 9 bullet points to make bathing easier.  Several tips on alternatives to bathing and washing hair.  Also discusses after bathing and safety.
Bathing
ALZSmart Score™ - Very Good75%

Thoughtful Dementia Care: Understanding the Dementia Experience

Jennifer Ghent-Fuller

Pages 141-144

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Includes many examples of practical advice to overcome the resistence bathing. Well rounded.  It also has contextual framework.
Thoughtful Dementia Care:  Understanding the Dementia Experience
ALZSmart Score™ - Very Good70%

Pathways Home Health and Hospice

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Provides 8 universal tips.  Also includes 5 creative bathing techniques developed by families.
Bathing a Patient with Dementia
ALZSmart Score™ - Very Good70%

Bathing Without a Battle

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Offers 7 non-traditional approaches to bathing.  There is also a free 2 hour training course available called "Bathing Without a Battle' (this course requires user registration).
Bathing Without a Battle
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%

Daily Caring

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Tips include a mix of behavior, physical environment, and routine advice.
7 Tips to Get Someone with Alzheimer's to Take a Bath
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%

UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Program

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

[Video 4:29]  Simple explanatory video about overcoming 'Refusal to Bathe' behavior.  This video is part of a series of 20 caregiver training videos produced by the UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia.  This video series is in both English and Spanish.
Refusal to Bathe
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%

A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia

Laura N. Gitlin, PhD and Catherine Verrier Piersol, PhD, OTR/L

Pages 70-71

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Focus is mainly on the environmental factors such as changes to the bathtub, bathroom, and bathing routine.  Covers a wide variety of changes with 24 bullet points.
A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%

When Reasoning No Longer Works (2nd Edition)

Angel Smits

Pages 59-62

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

A listing of 25 bullet points that give practical advice on overcoming resistance to bathing.
When Reasoning No Longer Works (2nd Edition)
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%

Ahead of Dementia

Luciana Mitzkun

Pages 187-191

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Begins with a discussion of context. Has sections on bathroom safety and bathroom comfort.  Describes the issue of bathing and has around 10 tips to help overcome resistance to bathing.
Ahead of Dementia
ALZSmart Score™ - Good60%

Alzheimer's Universe

Sherry Christiansen

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Basic article that touches on 6 of the most important aspects of resistance to bathing.
6 Bath Time Challenge Tips for Alzheimer’s Caregivers
ALZSmart Score™ - Average55%

Aging Care

Carol Bradley Bursack, Minding Our Elders

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

This article lists some of the reasons why a person with Alzheimer's might refuse to bathe.  There's also a listing of suggestions about halfway down the web page.
What to Do When a Senior Refuses to Bathe and Change Their Clothes
ALZSmart Score™ - Average55%

Aging Care

Carol Bradley Bursack, Minding Our Elders

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Has 7 paragraphs explaining why a person with Alzheimer's may be hesitant to bathe.  Offers 6 tips and tricks that you can use to help.  This article closes with thoughts on depression and hygiene issues.
Bathing Tips and Techniques for Dementia Caregivers
ALZSmart Score™ - Average55%

HelloCare

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Has 5 measures that caregivers can take help make the showering process more enjoyable for their loved ones and for caregivers.
5 Dementia And Bathing Tips For Carers
ALZSmart Score™ - Average50%

Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Simple straight-forward article on the basics of bathing Alzheimer's patients.  Offers a list of 4 bullet point tips to help caregivers overcome the ordeals of bathing.
Bathing Alzheimer's Patients - Tips and Techniques
ALZSmart Score™ - Average50%

Alzheimer's Reading Room

Bob DeMarco

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

[Video 11:22]  Describes a simple three step approach to bathing.  Frames this approach using an anecdote as a walk-thru example.
How to Inspire a Dementia Patient to Shower
ALZSmart Score™ - Average50%

Johns Hopkins Medicine

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

[Video 6:31] Second half of video is related to bathing.  Uses interview's with caregivers to discuss issues with bathing.
Dressing and Bathing - Memory and Alzheimer's Disease
ALZSmart Score™ - Average50%

Learning to Speak Alzheimer's

Joanne Koenig Coste

Pages 85-89

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Employs the 'habilitation' approach.  Delinates 6 problems that may crop up.
Learning to Speak Alzheimer's
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory35%

Alzheimer's Association

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Includes a very short paragraph at the top of the article related to resistance to bathing.  Comprehensive and concise article that covers many of the other aspects related to the process of bathing and preparation of the physical envirnment.  
Bathing
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory35%

Very Well Health

Esther Heerema, MSW

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Four short paragraphs discussing resistive behaviors to bathing.  Topics incude embarassment, fear of water, lack of understanding.
19 Tips for Helping Someone With Dementia Shower or Bathe
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory35%

Alzheimer's Society

Geo Location: All (UK)

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Two or three tips on overcoming reluctance to bathing.  This article is more focused on the basics of hygiene than on challenging behavior.
When Someone With Dementia is Reluctant to Wash
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory30%

Family Caregiver Alliance

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

First bullet point is focused on resistence to bathing.  Many subsequent bullet points related to the bathing process and physical environment.
Bathing (For Dementia)
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory25%

National Institute on Aging

Geo Location: All (US)

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

This article is a general overview of bathing, dressing, and grooming.  There is only a little info on resistance to bathing.
Bathing, Dressing, and Grooming: Alzheimer's Caregiving Tips
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory25%

HelpForAlzheimersFamilies.com (aka Home Instead Senior Care)

Geo Location: All

ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents

Five simple tips for bathing.
5 Tips to Get More Cooperation During Bath Time

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