How can we help my father, who has Alzheimer's remember to pull his depends down when using the bathroom?

A fellow caregiver asked...

My dad has Alzheimer's and wears depends. The problem is that when he goes to the bathroom he does not pull his depends down. We don't know why. He even forgets to take them off when he showers. Do you have some advice or is there a product out there that may help?

Expert Answer

A social worker and geriatric consultant who specializes in dementia care, Joyce Simard is based in Land O' Lakes, Florida, and in Prague. She is a well-known speaker and has written two books, one focusing on end-of-life care and the other, entitled The Magic Tape Recorder, explaining aging, memory loss, and how children can be helpers to their elders.

If your father goes to the bathroom on his own does he need Depends?  Have you tried pinning them to his pants so they will go down when he pulls his pants down?  Other than that, someone will have to make sure they go to the bathroom with him.  Put a bell on the door so that you are aware when he enters the bathroom.