How to Handle Difficult Behaviors
Won't change clothes
Possible causes:
Apathy, disinterest, depression, dementia
What to do:
Ask yourself what the real problem is -- the clothes or your sensibility? If the person agrees to washing favored outfits regularly, the same outfit over and over is simply an aesthetic choice that may conflict with your ideas. If the clothes are filthy, that's another issue.
When your loved one bathes, immediately put the clothes in the washer and start it.
If your loved one prefers certain items, make them available in multiples and cull the closet of everything else. No harm done. (Hey, it worked for Steve Jobs.)
Know that wearing the same clothes repeatedly is a common Alzheimer's behavior, the result of memory loss and impaired decision-making skills.
