Four Reasons Personal Grooming Is Important
October 28, 2024
Has your elderly loved one ever said she doesn’t want to go somewhere because she doesn’t look good? You might have even answered kindly by stating it doesn’t matter how she looks, people will just be happy to see her. And while it is true that physical looks don’t matter, personal grooming is an important part of your elderly loved one’s well-being.
Good Personal Care Provides Numerous Benefits
Being able to maintain good personal care or having someone visit to provide personal care at home is an important aspect of your elderly loved one’s overall health for several reasons.
- It provides comfort in social situations. As referenced in the opening of this article, not feeling like you’re looking your best can cause some people to not want to go out and interact with others. They may feel too self-conscious to attend their favorite events or gatherings, which in turn isolates them and can lead to depression and loneliness.
- Good personal care promotes physical health. Receiving regular care for hair, nails, teeth, and skin can prevent other health issues from developing. For example, keeping skin moisturized can prevent cracking and infections. Proper nail care can prevent bacteria from building up under the nails and leading to illness.
- Enhances comfort. Dry skin is itchy and painful. Dirty teeth feel gross and can cause pain. Even an unshaven face can make a person feel uncomfortable in his own skin.
- Promotes dignity. Having your personal care needs met makes a person feel worthy and better about himself. It can help your loved one remember that she is worth a little pampering now and again, as well as daily care.
Getting Help for Personal Care at Home
While your loved one has probably been used to providing her own personal care for her life, as she’s aged, she may be finding she can’t do it as well anymore. She may not be able to bend over to take care of her toenails or reach behind her back to comb out her hair. Her eyes may not be able to see well enough to pluck her eyebrows, or her hands may not be steady enough to hold a toothbrush.
When the aging body makes it difficult for your elderly loved one to take care of her own personal grooming needs, you might consider hiring someone to come to where she lives and provide personal care at home. A personal care at home provider can step in and provide the assistance your loved one may need in any area of personal care.
Some Grooming Tasks a Personal Care at Home Provider Can Assist with:
- Shaving areas that your loved one can no longer reach or is concerned about nicking herself in.
- Applying lotion and creams to dry skin on areas your loved one cannot reach such as the back, the feet, and the lower legs.
- Tending to nail care. Lack of flexibility may make it difficult for your loved one to care for her toenails or a disease like arthritis may make handling a nail clipper difficult and frustrating.
- Providing oral care. If your loved one needs assistance with brushing, flossing, or maintaining her dentures, a personal care at home attendant can assist in those areas to help promote better oral health.