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Personal hygiene

Looking after yourself

You might be finding daily tasks such as personal care a bit tricky. Here are some tips to help

Personal care can become a challenge when you’re living with dementia. There are lots of reasons for this, including:

  • Memory problems might make remembering to do daily tasks difficult. Some people find they have trouble recalling if they’ve showered recently or if they’ve brushed their teeth.

  • Issues with decision making. Living with dementia means it can be hard to decide what needs to be done and in what order. Sometimes this leads to overwhelm and you might feel like giving up and not bothering.

  • Low motivation. Some people find they have periods of low mood in the early stages of dementia which can mean that personal hygiene stops.

  • Confusion. You might feel confused and disorientated, even in familiar places, so self-care becomes a lower priority.

  • Changes in visual perception. Walking up and down stairs and judging distances can be tricky when you’re living with dementia. This can be scary, make you lose confidence and feel reluctant to use upstairs bathrooms for washing.

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Help with taking care of yourself

The good news is that there are things you can do that will help you with day-to-day personal hygiene tasks. Here’s what helps:

Create a routine

Knowing what you need to do, on what day and at what time, really helps with decision making and organisation – which is where having a set routine comes in.

You can create a daily planner or ask someone to help you make your own using a diary or just a sheet of paper. Read more about the benefits of routine here <Link to Routine>

Use technology
Set reminders on your tech devices to remind you when to brush your teeth or to jog your memory about shaving, hair washing, nail cutting and changing your clothes and bedding. Ask a loved one if you need help with this.

Talk to someone about your issues

Don’t feel embarrassed, ashamed or worried about a loss of dignity if you feel you need help with personal care. Your loved ones would rather you asked for help than leave you feeling uncomfortable or suffering from skin issues or dental problems. Tell them about your concerns and difficulties – they can help.

Ask for help

If it’s not possible for a loved one to help you with personal care, you can get carers to come in and help with washing and dressing. They are specially trained and you can ask for a same-sex carer. Speak to your GP about accessing help or contact a Dementia UK nurse on 0800 888 6678 for advice.

You can find specific tips on personal care when living with dementia here

If you need help and advice around personal care, call Dementia UK on 0800 888 6678 or speak to your GP or a social worker

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