Hi guys,
I am working with a gentleman with Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome and I was wondering if any of you might have had some experience with this condition.
The guy is generally pretty friendly and polite. However, he consistently declines to shower (independently or with support) and will state that he will shower later on in the day - which never eventuates. Any attempt to bring up showering after the initial suggestion is met with aggression and threats of violence directed toward his support workers. It isn't his fault - it is as if any pressure results in frustration that shoots him from 0-100 immediately.
I have offered the care team a variety of strategies to mitigate the issue, such as offering choices, giving space, avoiding instruction, using gentle encouragement, speaking to them at eye level, and basically anything that may respect his agency and dignity. We have experimented with adjusting the environment to reduce areas of friction, such as lighting and heating. Nothing appears to be effective.
The primary issue, aside from basic hygiene, is the fact that he is frequently incontinent...
If any of you have any experience with this, please let me know.