Final answer:
Nursing assistants should help residents with AD with bathing by assessing their needs, encouraging independence, giving clear instructions, ensuring safety, and providing reassurance. Communication with the healthcare team about the resident's needs is also important.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a resident with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) has problems with bathing, the nursing assistant should approach the situation with patience, understanding, and a personalized care plan. It is important to offer support while respecting the individual's dignity and preferences. Here are some steps a nursing assistant can take:
- Assess the level of assistance the resident needs while ensuring that they have as much privacy as possible.
- Encourage independence by allowing the resident to do as much as they can on their own, offering help only when necessary.
- Use gentle reminders and clear, simple instructions if the resident is confused or forgets what to do next.
- Ensure a safe bathing environment by removing potential hazards, checking water temperature, and using non-slip mats.
- Provide soothing reassurance throughout the bathing process to help reduce anxiety and agitation that the resident may experience.
It's also crucial to communicate frequently with other members of the healthcare team regarding the resident's bathing needs and any observed changes in their condition.