4 Ways to Get Someone with Dementia to Change Clothes

It can be challenging for caregivers to get those with Alzheimer’s or dementia to change their outfits on a regular basis. These older adults may want to wear the same clothes nonstop for a week or more, or might not care if their clothing is soiled and smelly. They may resist changing into pajamas at night, wear clothing items the wrong way, or put on clothing that completely clashes.

The reasons for this kind of behavior can be varied. You can gain valuable perspective if you first try to determine why someone is refusing to change their clothes. Taking this step can help you realize that they aren’t being difficult on purpose, and allow you to find the best approach to solving the problem. Here are some possible reasons your senior may be exhibiting confusion, resistance, or discomfort when you suggest it’s time to change their outfit:

1. Impaired memory or judgement – The type of damage dementia does to the brain can cause behavior that doesn’t make sense to caregivers. Your older adult may no longer be able to make wise choices, or may have lost the ability to keep track of time. They may think they already changed clothes recently, or may forget that the clothes they already took off are dirty.
2. Need for control – Those with dementia may feel like they’re losing their ability to make decisions on their own, so they may insist on more independence or autonomy, even when their decision-making ability is impaired.
3. Need for comfort and security – Wearing the same clothes continually may make your senior feel comforted by a familiar routine.
4. Struggles with everyday tasks – It’s possible your older adult is simply overwhelmed by the steps involved in getting dressed, including picking out an outfit. They may find that the physical motions required to dress, undress, or do laundry are too difficult, or that they get fatigued doing so.
5. Feeling overstimulated or uncomfortable – Make sure the clothing choices you put out don’t have distracting patterns or colors. They also shouldn’t fit awkwardly or have difficult fasteners.
6. Weakened or dulled senses – It’s entirely possible that your senior can’t smell the odors caused by soiled clothing, or doesn’t see the stains.

Before getting into a scenario where you try to convince or force an individual with dementia to change their clothes, first decide if it’s really important in that particular situation. Although people generally change their clothes daily and switch into pajamas at night, that’s not always hygienically necessary. If the person is still clean and comfortable at bedtime, there’s not really a reason they need to change into pajamas, especially if they’re wearing loungewear. They may also be able to wear a shirt and pants a few times before changing, if they can manage to avoid soiling them. If they won’t be leaving the house that day, they may not feel like putting in the effort to change, especially if it tires or challenges them. Timing is also important; wait until they’re not cranky or tired to suggest a clothing change.

If a change is indeed needed, using the right strategies, sprinkled with a liberal dose of patience, can go a long way toward making the dressing experience smoother and a lot less stressful. Turn a potentially tense moment into a positive interaction with these four gentle, effective tips:

1. Avoid using logic and reason to convince them. Remember that dementia has caused damage to their brain. Because of this, the actual facts won’t be as convincing to them as their own thoughts or memories. Also, they may interpret your reasoning that their clothes are filthy as criticism, automatically putting them on the defensive. The use of logic can further confuse them, making them especially sensitive.
2. Get clever or sneaky. If you buy identical replacement outfits that are the same color and style, you can swap out the dirty set and wash it while the other set is being worn. You could also wait until they fall asleep to remove dirty clothes from their room and replace them with a fresh set of different clothes – or, if they sleep in the same clothes they wear during the day, replace the items while they’re bathing.
3. Make dressing easier. Take the decision work out of dressing so your older adult doesn’t get as overwhelmed. Give fewer options so there are fewer decisions to make. Remove any seasonal clothing that is no longer relevant. Only leave clothing that is easy to put on or take off, such as adaptive clothing with specialized fasteners. Choose clothes with solid colors rather than patterns, which can be confusing and distracting for those with dementia. Lay out clothing in the same order each time, and make sure everything matches. Give them plenty of time to dress so they don’t feel rushed.
4. Gain perspective on the situation. If your older adult loves a particular outfit but you don’t think it’s appropriate, let it go (as long as it’s clean and weather-appropriate). Don’t be embarrassed if they only want to wear sweatshirts with cartoon characters, for example. Remind yourself that social standards of changing and bathing every day may not be important as long as they are remaining healthy.

In conclusion, the key when dressing your older adult with dementia is to preserve their dignity while reducing frustration. Let go of your ideas of what is “normal” and focus instead on being sure the individual is clean, comfortable, and happy.