3.5 - The bedroom

The bedroom

The bedroom can be safe space for anyone and it is important for everyone to have a safe and relaxing place to sleep well at night, and a straightforward space to get ready in the morning.

It is particularly important to reduce clutter in the bedroom and make sure that there is lots of room around the bed. When a person is tired they may be more likely to trip and stumble.

Another potential risk is that a person with dementia may find it difficult to find or identify their bed. They should be able to see their bed easily from as many locations as possible and access it from both sides. Use contrasting bed linen and sheets to help define clearly the sleeping area. Bed covers are better in a colour that contrasts with the carpet. Ideally the bed should be visible from the toilet area so that when the person wakes up during the night they can see where they need to go and where to return to. This would help avoid people needing to ask where the toilet is and possibly not getting there in time which can be very distressing.

Another thing to consider is that people with dementia can be anxious and frightened when they see their reflection in a mirror because they may not recognise the person who is looking back at them. If mirrors are the problem, cover or remove them.

Dressing

There are a number of things that you can do to support a person with dementia to get dressed.

Plan plenty of time when supporting a person with dementia to get dressed. Rushing the person can cause anxiety and frustration. As the disease progresses beyond the early stages, choosing and putting on clothes can be frustrating for the person with dementia. The person may not remember how to dress or may be overwhelmed with the choices or the task itself.

• Simplify choices. Keep the drawers and cupboards free of excess clothing. A person may panic if clothing choices become overwhelming. If appropriate, give the person an opportunity to select favourite outfits or colours, but try offering just two or three choices. It is important to involve the person in the choice of clothes but you can help to make the process easier for them. 
• Organise. Lay out clothing in the order that they should be put on. Hand the person one item at a time while giving simple, direct instructions such as "Put your arms in the sleeves," rather than "Get dressed." 
• Pick comfortable and simple clothing. Cardigans, shirts and blouses that button in front are easier to work than pullover tops. Substitute Velcro® for buttons, snaps or zippers, which may be too difficult to handle. Make sure that clothing is loose fitting, especially at the waist and hips, and choose fabrics that are soft and stretchable. 
• Choose comfortable shoes. Make sure the person has comfortable, non-slip shoes. 
• Be flexible. If the individual wants to wear the same outfit repeatedly, buy duplicates or have similar options available. Even if the person’s outfit is mismatched, try to focus on the fact that he or she was able to get dressed.  

It is important to do all that you can to involve the person in as many choices as possible. The simple act of choosing what to wear can become a very important part of a person’s identity.