Hello. How do you encourage someone with dementia who never wants to go out?

[Geoff071945]

I’m Geoff, 78 years old. I‘m the carer for my wife who is 76 who has now been diagnosed with dementia a few years ago. Amongst a lot of other difficulties I can’t get her to shower, get dressed and go out at all. Anybody experienced the same and have any suggestions?

 

[Kevinl]

Hello Geoff have you ever opened a can of worms, just pretty much all of us, honestly all of us have struggled with some of all of what you describe.
I had a shower, we had a shower, I get dressed, we got dressed, I'm going shopping we went.
It was like having a shadow, whatever I did we did, there is no one solution just about coping.
I did for her what I know she'd have done for me.
Copying behaviour I get part dressed then help her, we shower together, I go shopping/we get shopping, inclusion not instruction.
Might not work for everyone but it worked for me for something over 10 years wife and mum two times loser. K

 

[northumbrian_k]

Hi @Geoff071945 and welcome to Dementia Support Forum. We are a friendly and helpful community of members who have experience of many aspects of dementia. I am sorry to hear about your wife. I faced a similar situation a few years ago. What helped me enormously was engaging a carer/befriender for a few hours one day a week. This gave me the opportunity for some leisure time. My wife quickly accepted her new friend, would sometimes have a bath and change into fresh clothes. They used to go out with the dog or to cafes.

Perhaps something similar could help you.