Bathing People with Dementia: When Education Is Not Enough

Abstract

This qualitative study describes health care assistants' (HCA) perceptions and experiences related to bathing people with dementia in residential care settings. Data were collected from three focus groups with 18 HCA participants from 12 different residential care facilities. HCAs constructed two definitions of a successful bath, which informed their choice of bathing strategies. Three themes emerged from the data analysis in regard to their bathing strategies: I Know You, I Am All Alone, and I Am Not Prepared. These data informed the development of a framework to guide gerontological nurses in creating and supporting the opportunity for successful bathing.