What to do when the person with dementia refuses daily care? Free webinar by Meals on Wheels Senior Services and Area Agency on Aging

Rockwall, TX (April 30, 2024) – The person who once taught you basic hygiene and how to present yourself suddenly needs to gain these essential behaviors. It can be startling when you realize the result of not bathing or brushing one’s teeth and the embarrassment from the effects. No one wants to be like this. Dementia steals like an experienced thief. You never see it coming, and it keeps coming back for more.

How do you handle this with a person who means so much to you but has taken on an unpredictable personality and approach with you? Will they be open to a conversation about basic hygiene? It can be a delicate conversation, as telling someone they smell rarely goes well. What are the things that you can do to protect the dignity of your loved ones and also meet an acceptable standard of care? There are numerous stressful factors associated with caring with a loved one who has dementia. Hygiene should not be one of them.

Caregiving for a family member can be a challenging journey, both for the person(s) being cared for and the person(s) giving care. However, with the right support, this journey can be made more manageable. Meals on Wheels Senior Services of Rockwall County (MOWSS) is here to partner with you. We collaborate with the North Central Texas Area Agency on Aging to provide caregiver support , guiding caregivers and seniors through all stages of life and preparation, and offering a lifeline to relieve anxiety.

What can caregivers do when the person with dementia refuses daily care? Lucy Barylak will lead a presentation with questions to follow on this subject. Ms. Barylak received her master’s degree in Social Work from McGill University and has dedicated her career to supporting caregivers. Lucy was the founder and long-standing manager of the Caregiver Support Centre at the CLSC Rene-Cassin, a multi-service respite program for family caregivers, and oversaw transference of knowledge for programs including Caregiving, Mental Health, Elder Abuse, and Palliative Care.

This is a free, online event for family members and professionals. RSVP here: https://bit.ly/3vXLPEO Hosted by: North Central Texas Area Agency on Aging & Texas Health and Human Services and the WellMed Charitable Foundation.

Be sure to check out our Resource Directory, FAQ, and Educational Events Calendar for more great information! Permission is granted to duplicate all parts of this page to use in education programs supporting family members caring for elders.

For additional information, call Meals on Wheels Senior Services of Rockwall County at 972-771-9514.

 Meals on Wheels Senior Services of Rockwall County and North Central Texas Area Agency on Aging provided information. The North Central Texas Area Agency on Aging serves adults aged 60 and older and their family caregivers who live in Collin, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, and Wise counties. Their mission is to create and maintain a coordinated health and social services network for older adults and family caregivers. They provide services and resources that help older adults maximize their quality of life and live independently. Information, education, and direct services help individuals meet basic needs and make informed decisions. Contact one of their staff members or call 800-272-3921.

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