Dementia Patient Wears the Same Clothes Over and Over

If you'd met him late in his dementia, you'd invariably see him in a stained plaid shirt and baggy, wrinkled gray trousers -- day after day after day.By Paula Spencer ScottAlzheimer's Reading RoomMy father had always been a careful dresser.After he retired from his life of white shirts and ties, he wore a full rainbow of golf shirts and owned more cardigans than Mister Rogers.Afraid of Making the Wrong Caregiver Moves?But if you'd met him late in his dementia, you'd invariably see him in a stained plaid shirt and baggy, wrinkled gray trousers -- day after day after day.Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading RoomEmail:The worst part was trying to wash them.He wouldn't put them in the hamper.Instead, he hung them up and put them on again in the morning— before anyone could sneak in and spirit them away to the laundry room.Learn More -How to talk to a parent with dementiaWhy it happens:Impaired short term memory causes someone with dementia to forget the clothes are dirty as soon as they undress.Impaired judgment means that the usual clues (stained, wrinkled, smelly) don't add up to the usual response (put them in the hamper to be washed).Donning the same handy clothes the next day can be easier than having to choose among many clothes in drawers or the closet. Making choices can be cognitively overwhelming.Familiarity - in contrast - is comforting.TRY this:Steer clear of logic, such as pointing out, "Honestly, Dad! You wore the same outfit yesterday!" Not only is it hard for so...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimers caregiving care of dementia patients dementia help for caregivers family caregiving help alzheimer's help with dementia help with dementia care wearing the same cloths Source Type: blogs