Foot care and foot health awareness in patients with Dementia.

With advancing Dementia, someone will be less able to tell you they are in pain. Often hidden away in slippers, poor foot health, long uncomfortable toenails, painful corns will start to restrict their mobility, increase their risk of falling and increase their inactivity/isolation . This will only act to speed up and exacerbate their dementia.

All healthcare professionals and carers and relatives of dementia patients are advised to check their feet regularly especially in between the toes where painful corns and wounds can hide.

Treatment of Dementia patients:

Following a Dementia awareness course, here are some tips that I follow and want to share with all those working with or looking after someone with Dementia:

1. Greet with a smile and a slow calmness.
2. Speak with a calm voice using short sentences with pauses to allow them time to process the words.
3. Be aware of body language and non verbal clues….they may not always understand your words but can understand you intent and mood.
4. Find out about them and their past and speak to them directly about it. You don’t have to always get an answer.
5. Make sure the environment is quiet, calm and safe.
6. Make sure they have their hearing aids and glasses on and are warm enough and comfortable.
7. Try to be thick skinned if the disease renders them verbally aggressive.
8. Explain what you are going to do before you do it ie don’t suddenly lunge at them to take off their slippers.
9. Keep smiling.