A Care Giver Asks: Why Does Mom Refuse to Enter the Bathroom?

This caregiver went on to say,  I’m having big problem. Mom refuses to enter the bathroom at all. She stops at the entrance and will not move.  She wears Depends  so toileting isn’t the issue. She refuses to go in to take a shower or even to wash her hands or brush her teeth.  I am baffled by this new behavior and don’t know what to do about it.”

The only constant in dementia care is that things can and do change, often at a moment’s notice. What is important for us to remember is that we have to enter their world.

Here are a few suggestions that may help:

Enter the bathroom and look around as if seeing it for the first time.

What do you see?

Is there a large mirror reflecting your image? People with dementia often don’t recognize themselves in a mirror. The old man or woman reflected in the glass can be frightening when memory has taken her or him back in time.

An easy fix for this is to cover the mirror with a towel.

 What do you hear?  

The acoustics in bathrooms often result in echoes when people speak in loud voices or the taps are turned on.Play some soft, soothing music to cover the everyday sounds we have become accustomed to.

What do you feel?

Is it a bit chilly and damp?Use a space heater to make sure the room is warm. Towels and washcloths should be soft and fluffy.  Older people have thin, often sensitive skin.

What do you smell?

A mix of aromas from soaps, shampoo, lotions, and perfumes may overwhelm someone with dementia. Try switching to scentless products and see if it makes a difference.

One or more of these suggestions could work for you and the person in your care. If not, it may be time to let go of traditional bathing and oral hygiene and go to bedside baths with a cloth and a basin of warm water and switching to a soft sponge oral hygiene swab instead of a toothbrush.

Bobbi Carducci




Medicare and Respite Care – What Does it Cover?



What is respite care?




Does Original Medicare cover respite care?





What is covered under a Medicare Advantage plan?









Thank you, Danielle Kunkle for contributing this article today.




Mom refuses to change her clothes? It’s been four days!










Often the behavior of someone with dementia is so changeable and unpredictable it’s almost impossible to figure out what is going on, leaving the caregiver confused and frustrated. Why is your spouse confused with you and so alert when someone comes to visit? Why does your mother, who is usually calm and agreeable, suddenly become angry and aggressive? “Why do you do that?” you may ask.

Alzheimer’s and the other forms of dementia are devastating brain diseases. Connections affecting behavior and memory work intermittently in the mild to moderate stage resulting in good days where one might question they even have the disease to bad days when their world and yours seem to spin out of control with no warning.

Their brain is sending them messages as real to them as your thoughts are to you. The person with dementia is terrified. The caregiver is at her wits end. The situation can escalate and sometimes may even become dangerous. What just happened, you may wonder. Things were fine a moment ago.

Take a few deep breaths to calm yourself. People with dementia may not understand your words but they do sense your emotions. If you are tense their tension will rise creating a worsening situation for both of you.

Try to determine what their behavior is telling you. Behavior is communication. Body language can speak volumes when words fail. Here are four examples of common dementia behaviors and how your response can get you from frustration to connection:

  1. One moment Mom is happily sharing breakfast with you and the next she is terrified of the stranger sitting across from her. No matter how hard you try, you cannot convince her who you are and that she lives with you now.
  2. Mom not recognizing you tells you that her brain has taken her back in time. Ask her how old she is. If she is in her thirties and you are still a child, go there with her. Smile, tell her your name and ask her to tell you about her child. Share some of your memories from that time. You may end up having some precious moments with her.
  3. Your father, who celebrated his retirement five years ago by playing golf as often as possible, is now demanding you give him the keys to his car so he can get to work on time. His job was important to him and was a way to show his love for his family. Tell him it’s the weekend or his day off. Ask him what he has planned for the following week and listen to his ideas. Let him know how much you appreciate all he does for his family.
  4. Your loved one keeps trying to get out of the house insisting she wants to go home even though she is home and you moved in to take care of her. When someone with dementia wants to go home you may think she is referring to the last place she lived. However, it could be her childhood home or the first apartment she had as a newlywed. It could be that she doesn’t feel safe in the moment and needs the feeling of comfort that being home brings to everyone. Tell her that she will be home soon and ask her to tell you about her favorite room. You may be surprised at where she is. Wherever she thinks of as home, go there with her. If you have any pictures from that time or place show them to her and spend some time listening to her stories. You may learn some surprising things about her and her life before you came along.
  5. Every evening like clockwork, your husband begins to pace the floor and mumble incoherently, becoming more and more upset as he tries to make you understand what he’s trying to say.Trying to understand someone whose words are incomprehensible is extremely hard. You would respond if only you knew what he was trying to tell you. The harder you both try to communicate the more frustrated you both become. You won’t suddenly become fluent in his language. In this case your words are not as important as your tone and body language. If he is agitated you need to create distance between you and speak quietly, assuring him you understand. You may not, but that’s okay. The feeling of being understood is what’s important here. Smile and nod in agreement as he begins to relax. If he sits, you sit. Mirroring his movements is communicating in a way he can see. In time you may even begin to understand one another better.

There is never an easy answer, or one that works every time for everyone. However, going into their world works better than trying to get them to understand ours.

Bobbi Carducci was a caregiver for her father-in-law with dementia for seven years. She is a caregiver support group leader, blogger, author of the book, Confessions of an Imperfect Caregiver, Caregiver You Are Not Alone, and national speaker on caregiver issues. www.bobbicarducci.com www.theimperfectcaregiver.com Twitter:@BobbiCarducci2  Facebook: https://bit.ly/2FXw3JP





I Don’t Like You!

I don't like youWhen it’s one of those many very bad days and you the person you are caring for is pushing every button and grating on every nerve it’s natural to feel resentful and truly dislike her or him.

It’s okay to feel that way. Most of do more quite often thorough this life changing time. However, anger and resentment take a toll on us mentally and physically.  It’s exhausting to deal with all that emotion on top of everything else you do.

What is a caregiver to do on days like that?

  1. Walk away from the person in your care.
  2. Go to a quiet place. Go to the bathroom if that’s the only place you can be alone.
  3. Take a deep breath, let it out slowly. Repeat, Repeat. Repeat. Keep repeating until you feel calm.
  4. Think of one of the very best days you ever had with your caree. Picture it in your mind. When you are ready, perhaps when you being to smile, or cry, or simply wish for that day back, go get a cup of coffee or a glass of water.
  5. When you are ready – share that memory with your love one. Hold his or her hand if they are open to it. If they are not in a mood to share just then, it’s okay. You took a bit of time to take care of you. And maybe you have planted a seed in your caree’s memory that will take root later and give them a precious moment as well.

Fireworks and Sundowning – Not a Happy Fourth of July

fear of light

As if sundowning weren’t a challenge for those with dementia and their caregivers we add fireworks to the mix on July 4th each year. A person who once loved fireworks may respond differently now. For someone with dementia, the loud pops and explosions can trigger memories of wartime experiences causing a return or worsening of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Even someone who never went to war can be deeply affected by these annual displays. The flashing lights and changing colors in the sky can trigger fear leading to aggressive behavior that can be dangerous for the caregiver and their family member. Between the community events and backyard enthusiasts, the noise and confusion can often go on for hours. While some are calling for the ban of fireworks all together others are reluctant to do away with the long held tradition that they grew up with. It’s not an issue that will likely be resolved soon. However there is some good news. Many communities are becoming more aware of the impact fireworks have on those with dementia and are taking steps to minimize the impact by using quiet fireworks that focus on colors and effects rather than sound. It may not be a complete fix but it’s a step in the right direction for many.

If that is not the case in your area, here are a few suggestions that may help make things less stressful for you and your family.

  1. Talk to the person in your care about the holiday and what it means to him or her. Listen to their stories of picnics past and how they showed their pride in their country.
  2. Encourage them to talk about fireworks. Were they exciting and fun or too loud and scary?
  3. If you live near a place where you see and hear fireworks from your home, you should prepare them for what will happen. They may not remember later but you never know what will help on day like this and it’s worth a try.
  4. Early in the day may be a good time to show them a video of fireworks. There are a number links of the displays available for viewing on social media. Turn the sound off before showing it to the person in your care. Explain that they may see these lights in the sky later that night and you will sit with them until it’s over.
  5. If even the silent display is upsetting, close the blinds and drapes in their room before sunset to block out the flashing lights. Play music he or she likes using earbuds or head phones if possible to mask the noise. If these devices are not available or practical in your situation, play the music anyway and sing or dance along with it to distract them, they may even join you.

Behavior is communication and their actions always include clues as to where they are and how they feel. It is when we enter their world rather than insisting they live in our reality that true understanding comes to us, the caregivers.

Bobbi Carducci was a caregiver for her father-in-law with dementia for seven years. She is a caregiver support group leader, blogger, author of the book, Confessions of an Imperfect Caregiver, and national speaker on caregiver issues. www.bobbicarducci.com www.theimperfectcaregiver.com Twitter:@BobbiCarducci2 Facebook: https://bit.ly/2FXw3JP



What’s Love Got To Do With It?

broken heart





Please share your thoughts in the form provided

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