My husband is being cared for in a good nursing home, thank God. Yesterday I cautioned an aide to be sure the curtain used for privacy was not positioned so that he couldn't be seen when he's in bed. (He tries to climb out of bed and falls because he has no balance, no ability to stand or walk.) I want staff to be able to see him if he's hurt. She informed me that when she arrives at 7AM, she finds that he has removed all his clothing and is laying asleep completely naked. Can anyone explain why this happens and how to handle this? Thanks! This site is a godsend! Hugs, Corinne
There are so many real issues in dementia that do have to be addressed. I'm wondering if this is one of them?
Now sometimes people even without dementia will take off their clothes when death is near. This is because they feel very hot even as their body temperature is below normal. This is also a paradoxical thing that happens when people freeze to death. I don't think either of these situations are relevant to someone with dementia undressing, though.
Jessie, now that you mention it, when my Dad was in his last couple of days of Hospice, he was trying to take off his gown.