Difficulties performing personal care and bathing

Dementia may also affect the person’s ability to wash their hair and take a shower or a bath. A person living with dementia may view assistance with personal care as a threat to his or her privacy, safety and security, and may refuse or resist any help.

Let’s look at an example

Zain has Alzheimer’s disease and is cared for by his wife Zara. Due to her age, Zara is not strong enough to help shower Zain anymore, so the family decides that the three sons could take turns to help with Zain’s weekly shower.  

The oldest son is very kind to Zain and reassures him that he will make him comfortable during the shower. He takes Zain to the bathroom and starts to undress him. Zain suddenly pushes him away, shouts at him and tells him to go away.