Showering

Doesn’t like to shower. Make it a game Simon says, Deanna says get in the shower now.

I used to play a game with mum as most dementia sufferers loathe having a shower. I called it Simon Says, instead Deanna says. So she had no choice but to go to the bathroom.

One morning, when I went to the bathroom, getting it all ready for her and turned on the shower. I used to joke with her and say, “it’s your favourite time of the day,” as she hated having a shower and she would say, “no it’s not!”

Mum is in the living room and says” I felt the shower, its cold!!!”. “Cold?” I replied “ how can you feel it in the lounge room ?” “ I did” she replied.

Then I tell her " I can’t let you going out smelly!" she replies " don’t be rude!" When I have to do her hair and she does not want her hair washed or brushed I say, " I can’t let you go out with a birds nest on your head" She replies " Yes you can!" We have this daily banter as I know she finds everything a struggle and was no longer enjoying living anymore.

Put shower on as you undress them , so it’s warm when they get in

Put towel on toilet seat, to sit on, once out of the shower.

Liquid soap put in flannel to wash her in the shower.

Mum used to ask what is the colour of her hair. Ask a silly question get a silly answer. Every time I washed and blow dried her hair she would ask “what is the colour of my hair?” I would tell her a different colour - Pink, purple, green, blue. She roars with laughter. When I wash n blow dry her hair I would ask her what colour would she like. Pink became her favourite hair colour. Light, hot, pretty lovely Pink.

Becomes like a toddler, throws tantrums.

She used to carry on and complain, scream when I sprayed her with deodorant, drying her with a towel. You would think I was murdering her, so I said to her “no complaints are allowed or I go on strike.” So I stopped when she carried on and she roared with laughter.

If I touch her toe and she complains I’ve hurt her I tell her “stop being so greedy, you have another 9 toes, you don’t need that toe!!” She roars with laughter.

Now when I dress or undress her, she turns into a giant starfish or octopus with her hands wide apart hanging onto the rail in the bathroom. I have to tell her, “you can’t be a giant starfish / octopus, I cannot put on or take off your clothes” she laughs.

Heading

This is in bold adn this is in italic

This is a blockquote

List of things:

1. eat
2. drink
3. sleep

bulleted list:

• hello
• world

[Dementia Support Australia](https://dementia.com.au/)