Step 4. Start the Bath

Step 4. Start the Bath

*How Not* to Start!** Keep water away from head & face area - a main cause of agitation.
How to Start
•	Use handheld shower (gentle spray)
•	Aim at feet & legs
•	Smile, speak softly
•	Give step-by-step instructions
•	Use simple sentences
•	Move slowly & gently
TIP

TIP

If the person tends to be aggressive, give him/her a washcloth to hold or a favorite snack to eat as soon as you get into the bathtub.

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Step 4. Start the Bath

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Narration:

Don't start the shower with the water aimed at the person's face or head. People with dementia are hypersensitive to water flowing onto their scalp or into their eyes and ears. For most people, it's the main cause of agitation when bathing.

Instead, use a handheld shower hose that has a gentle spray and consider aiming the water at the person's feet and legs. This gives him/her time to get used to the water in a non-threatening way. Smile and speak softly, telling the person what will happen, step-by-step, in simple sentences. To avoid startling the person, move slowly and gently.