The purpose of this book is to change current bathing practices that create unnecessary distress and discomfort for persons with dementia. For many persons, bathing remains a pleasant experience. But in some cases, bathing becomes a battle for the care recipient and the caregiver. In the last decade we have learned much about ways to improve care for persons with dementia. We have changed many long held practices and beliefs about what constitutes good care. Yet, many of our standards related to bathing frail elders, particularly those with dementia,remain unchallenged. We hope to change some of your ideas about assisting persons with dementia with bathing by sharing lessons we have learned from many years of clinical practice and 9 years of conducting research in this area.