Comfort Fundamentals for Dementia: Bathing, Environment, and Nutrition
Presented by Carol O. Long
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Patients with dementia face progressive loss of memory, language impairment, and both executive and visuospatial dysfunction. The Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) will often emerge or become more pronounced if care is not patient-oriented and specific. Advancing functional deficits will need to be addressed by family members and professional caregivers who can provide expert guidance for ongoing care. The behavioral challenges and deficits often associated with dementia care in the home can be mitigated by using comfort care strategies. This course will identify key best practices for bathing, managing the home milieu, and nutritional strategies for the home care team caring for patients with dementia.
Meet your instructor
Carol O. Long
Dr. Long is a known expert in geriatric palliative and community-based health care, nationally and internationally. She has been a registered nurse for over 40 years holding various staff, management, education, and consultant positions. She has authored numerous articles, book chapters, abstracts, and monographs related to…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Bathing Considerations
Maintaining adequate personal hygiene for patients with dementia can be challenging if the care is not personalized and does not incorporate best practice interventions. This chapter focuses on bathing considerations for patients with dementia and new techniques for home care professionals and families to assure that personal hygiene and comfort needs are addressed.
2. Managing the Home Environment
Maintaining a safe and positive home environment is an important consideration for home care nurses. This chapter highlights methods to keep the home safe and reduce dementia-related behaviors caused when the environment is disrupted or confusing to the patient. Methods to minimize sundowning, and the importance of these methods, are addressed.
3. Nutritional Management
As the patient with dementia becomes more dependent upon others for their care, maintaining and augmenting nutrition can be challenging. The home dining environment is a factor as patients have increasing functional deficits related to eating. This chapter features proven methods to address these deficits while making the dining experience positive and comfortable.
More courses in this series
Comprehensive Care for the Older Adult: Mild Dementia
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Comprehensive Care for the Older Adult: Advanced/Late-Stage Dementia
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Comfort Fundamentals for Dementia: Bathing, Environment, and Nutrition
Carol O. Long
Comprehensive Care for the Older Adult: Moderate Dementia
Carol O. Long
Comprehensive Care for the Older Adult: Terminal Dementia and End of Life
Carol O. Long