Five Ways to Help Seniors Have Better Personal Hygiene
November 1, 2023
Maintaining personal hygiene is essential for seniors to be as healthy and confident as possible. But this is an area that can often become difficult for seniors to maintain on their own. That could be because of cognitive health changes, mobility issues, physical limitations, and other challenges. Personal care at home is an excellent solution, especially when used in conjunction with these tips.
Offer Effective Communication and Respect
It’s always vital to ensure that communication with seniors is open and respectful, but it’s even more crucial when it comes to personal care tasks and personal hygiene. Approach these difficult topics with plenty of empathy, sensitivity, and respect. All of that will go a long way toward ensuring that seniors are able to be on board with finding solutions that help them to remain as comfortable as possible.
Establish Solid Routines
Consistency is a big part of personal hygiene, and that means solid routines. Daily and weekly routines help to ensure that personal care tasks don’t fall by the wayside. Personal care at home providers can help seniors to stay on target with these routines and even adjust them as necessary. Structure helps seniors to feel more secure and know what to expect.
Protect Safety and Mobility
Often seniors start to have trouble with personal hygiene when they lose mobility and feel unsafe, particularly in the bathroom. It’s a good idea to do a safety overhaul in the bathroom. Handrails, non-slip mats, raised toilet seats, and a clutter-free room are all really important. Adding a shower chair means that seniors don’t have to worry about falling in the shower. Safer environments mean that seniors are more likely to have better hygiene overall.
Get Help with Difficult Tasks
It’s also possible that seniors need extra help with hygiene. Personal care at home helps to protect dignity while also offering help with these essential tasks. Caregivers are there to assist, but not to take over or to create situations that make seniors feel bad about needing help. Home care providers can also help with alternatives to specific hygiene tasks. If showers aren’t possible one day, then a sponge bath might be a better option.
Don’t Forget Teeth, Hair, and Nails
There are lots of other types of hygiene tasks, too. Hair, teeth, and nails all need to be taken care of properly. This can be another reason to embrace bringing in personal care at home for additional support. They’re able to ensure that all of a senior’s hygiene needs are met on a consistent basis.
Helping seniors to better manage personal hygiene is a huge part of the caregiving process. Over time, those challenges might become even bigger for seniors to handle on their own. Personal care at home makes quick work of all of these tasks and more. They help seniors to feel safe and secure while also ensuring that they’re comfortable, clean, and happy. Having that help available preserves independence and maintains dignity, which is absolutely essential for seniors when they’re feeling vulnerable.
If you or your loved one is looking for Personal Care at Home or Placement Services in San Jose, CA, please call Familiar Surroundings Home Care.
Santa Clara County: (408) 979-9990
San Mateo County: (650) 353-9777
Santa Cruz County: (831) 480-3990