Yes! It's normal. You're reliving with the person in the times they lived. Where people may not have bathed on a daily basis. You're also reliving with them their experiences, habits in those times.
How do you approach the matter? Does it come as a demand, suggestion? Put in a way so as to appear to be the individual's decision? I had the same issue with my father-in-law in his lifetime. I'd say "pops, it's time to take a bath." He'd say, "daughter, what the h*** you're talking about? I just had a bath an hour ago, a day ago whatever (not true)." So I learned to word it in a way so as to make it seem his decision. I'd stay with him, put bubbles in the tub, and while he was bathing I'd sit on the floor or the toilet seat and we'd talk about old times when he grew up and what life was like in those days. He began to come to me and say "daughter, I think I need a bath." :-) Afterwards, I'd massage his feet with an olive oil concoction I made up with lemon peel and ginger root. He loved those foot massages. ;-)
No guarantee this suggestion will work. You might find something better, a better way. But becoming argumentative or demanding with a dementia or Alzheimer's individual will only agitate and irritate them to the point they'll dig in their heels or even become physically combative.
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How do you approach the matter? Does it come as a demand, suggestion? Put in a way so as to appear to be the individual's decision?
I had the same issue with my father-in-law in his lifetime. I'd say "pops, it's time to take a bath." He'd say, "daughter, what the h*** you're talking about? I just had a bath an hour ago, a day ago whatever (not true)." So I learned to word it in a way so as to make it seem his decision. I'd stay with him, put bubbles in the tub, and while he was bathing I'd sit on the floor or the toilet seat and we'd talk about old times when he grew up and what life was like in those days. He began to come to me and say "daughter, I think I need a bath." :-)
Afterwards, I'd massage his feet with an olive oil concoction I made up with lemon peel and ginger root. He loved those foot massages. ;-)
No guarantee this suggestion will work. You might find something better, a better way. But becoming argumentative or demanding with a dementia or Alzheimer's individual will only agitate and irritate them to the point they'll dig in their heels or even become physically combative.