As a caregiver, your duties involve assisting others in performing a variety of daily tasks, including personal care. Caregivers play a significant role in helping people maintain their personal hygiene. This includes bathing, oral care, nail care, and more.
Liberty Resources Home Choices is a home care agency serving seniors and people with disabilities in the Philadelphia metro area, as well as in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Here, we discuss caregiving tips for assisting with personal hygiene and highlight what caregivers should focus on.
Tips for Bathing
A clean body and personal hygiene are important to a person’s overall health. Additionally, having a freshly cleaned body can be a huge morale booster. Bathing in a bathtub or shower helps people move around and circulate blood, as well. It’s important for caregivers to remember that bath time should never be rushed. Having people in your care take their time in the bathroom helps limit the threat of slips and falls.
Other tips for helping people bathe include:
- Ensure floors remain dry for safety reasons
- Use nonskid rugs or bathmats both inside and outside of the tub
- Use a movable shower head with a hose to target harder-to-reach places on a person’s body
- Gather all bathing supplies in the bathroom before having the person get in the tub
- Communicate with the person to help them better understand their bathing needs and assist when appropriate
- Always help guide the person in and out of the tub
- Test the temperature of the water before having the person get in
- Keep shampoo away from person’s eyes when washing hair
Tips for Nail Care
Personal hygiene for hands involves trimming and cleaning fingernails. It’s an important step in personal care because fingernails can house dirt and germs that contribute to the spread of infections. When providing nail care, caregivers should keep in mind the length of the nails and their condition. Nails should be kept at a short length and cleaned frequently with soap and water. Caregivers should also look out for signs of irritation or infection.
Additionally, if other household members are using the same grooming utensils as the person in your care, caregivers should clean the shared supplies with alcohol before and after every use. Other tips for nail care are:
- Wash your hands before providing nail care services
- Use a soft brush to gently remove trapped dirt from underneath the fingernails
- Cut nails straight across to prevent ingrown nails
- File nails after cutting to smooth edges
- Use lotion to keep the hands and feet moisturized and prevent cracking
Tips for Oral Care
Good oral health is necessary to perform several actions, such as speaking and consuming essential nutrients. It also impacts a person’s self-esteem and confidence. People in your care should brush their teeth at least once in the morning and once in the evening. Caregivers can make this personal hygiene step easier by making sure all items are easily accessible. In addition, when assisting someone, caregivers should look for evidence of cavities, disease, or damage to dentures.
Discover More Personal Hygiene Tips
At Liberty Resources Home Choices, we’re devoted to delivering top-quality care with a patient-centered approach. Our goal is always to provide comfort, support, and dignity for people and caregivers. Serving people in the Philadelphia metro area, we offer a wide assortment of services, including aid with personal hygiene. Contact us today to learn more about our offerings, as well as other tips on how to provide the best possible care for your loved one.
