Geriatric News

Free Webcast: The Older Adult, Dementia, and Assisted Bathing

Follow this link anytime to access the 30-minute webcast: http://www.nursingcenter.com/AJNolderadults

Not everyone needs a shower, nor does "bathing" need to happen on a rigid schedule, in order to keep residents clean and to comply with state and federal regulations.

For you, the thought of a warm bath or shower is probably a treat anticipated to provide comfort and relaxation. How unfortunate that for those with dementia, the bathing experience may be a painful, frightening, and humiliating procedure.

With planning and a process customized to address each person’s unique needs, or a person-centered approach, older adults with dementia (and staff) can be spared a negative experience. This 30-minute program is based on the American Journal of Nursing's April 2006 New Look at the Old article by Joanne Rader MN, RN, et al, titled: The Bathing Of Older Adults with Dementia, The video outlines cutting-edge research and presents best practices in bathing from researchers and practitioners, as well as guidance from the perspective of a state regulatory agency on what actually constitutes compliance with relevant standards of care.

This program and all others in the New Look at the Old series will remain available, on demand, through 2007.

This is the eleventh in a series of 18 Webcasts and is a collaborative effort among the American Journal of Nursing (AJN), the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and Trinity Healthforce Learning, sponsored in part through grants from both Atlantic Philanthropies. The broadcast series is designed to provide information and skills to improve the care and well-being of older adults. If you have any questions about the broadcast (or the associated print series), please contact Katherine Kany, Project Manager, at 703-729-6050 or katherinekany@adelphia.net.

Last updated - October 2007