Hi. We just moved my grandma to ALF and I've noticed that she doesn't get her teeth brushed daily and sometimes she's in the same clothing for two days. She has dementia and the staff say she declined, but she will always decline, if asked. What are reasonable expectations for care in these areas? She also has mild dementia. I want to give her and the staff time for adjustment, but I also want to be sure she's getting the care needed. I go daily to visit and she's been there a week.
In Moms care plan she got showered 2x a week. Anymore and I would have had to pay. I know they helped Mom with brushing because she hit an aide with her toothbrush. Thats how they knew she had a UTI. When Mom lived with me. I put the toothpaste on her brush and handed it to her. She brushed her own teeth. They always asked her if she wanted to shower, etc. I told them if they ask she will say No. Just do it. "P we are going to the bathroom". "P time for a shower".
By law, they can't force residents to do anything. But they should know how to coax them. When Mom was in LTC, the aide told me Mom was not brushing her teeth. I asked the aide if she put the toothpaste on the brush and handed it to Mom. I got that deer in the headlights look. Meaning, she didn't.