Dementia care: - an alternative method of washing and dressing V2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How does the implementation of an alternative personal care routine affect the daily living activities and behavioural outcomes for individuals with dementia experiencing paratonia?
IRAS ID
325185
Contact name
Sara Thelwell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Wrexham University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 30 days
Research summary
During the progression of dementia there is an increase in paratonia, a motor induced abnormality, which leads to devastating health consequences and poor quality of life.
Paratonia is an increase in muscle tone which occurs in response to passive movement, proportionate in degree to the stimulus applied, and is not consciously determined by the patient.Personal care for individuals with dementia in the mid to latter stages of the disease is commonly delivered on the bed by 2 care givers. Care givers will remove the top layer/s of bedding and clothing, wash, rinse and dry the individual before dressing, a process which provides a lot of sensory stimulation and passive movement, and this is often associated with periods of agitation.
This study aims to improve patient care and comfort by trialling and evaluating an alternative washing and dressing technique, which reduces the physical contact made with the individual and reduces movement on the bed.
This research will investigate whether Turn Only Once routine reduces the level of agitation and / or challenging behaviour and will hopefully inform the potential for a larger research study or improve the evidence relating to personal care routines for individuals with dementia.
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0550
Date of REC Opinion
22 Aug 2025
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion