Personal hygiene keeps seniors looking and feeling clean and tidy. When seniors feel put together, their moods tend to improve as well. But personal hygiene is about more than just feeling and smelling good. Paying attention to grooming and personal care also helps seniors to stay healthier. Good routines are the basis of maintaining personal hygiene, and personal care at home can help.
Look at the Existing Routine
Even if they don’t think they have a personal care routine, seniors probably do. There is some sort of schedule for when they decide to take a shower, wash their hair, or even change the sheets on their beds. Understanding those existing routines can help family caregivers and seniors determine what needs to change, if anything. Sometimes what seniors really need is help from home care providers instead of a different routine.
Include Regular Bathing or Showering
Starting the day with a shower or bath can help seniors to feel more awake and ready to face the day. On the other hand, a relaxing soak or warm shower can make it easier to fall asleep. Personal caregivers learn seniors’ habits and preferences, which can help them to make sure that personal care routines help seniors stay clean.
Focus on Skincare
Regular bathing removes bacteria and keeps skin healthy, but there are other tasks that help keep senior skin in good condition, too. Aging skin often becomes thin and fragile. Bathing in lukewarm water and using lotions and moisturizers afterward helps to protect skin from damage. Moisturized skin is also less likely to feel tight and itchy.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Personal care at home can also help seniors to keep up with oral hygiene tasks. Seniors are often more prone to gum disease and tooth decay, so maintaining good oral hygiene can slow these issues down. Seniors with dentures often need help taking care of them so that they stay in good working order.
Hair and Nails Need Care, Too
Seniors might not think about taking care of their hair and nails, but these are important areas as well. Keeping their hair washed and looking well improves self-confidence, while also maintaining good overall hygiene. Scalp issues like dandruff are easier to keep under control when hair is clean. Clean, evenly trimmed fingernails and toenails are less likely to cause injuries that can lead to infections.
Keeping Up with Household Task Counts as Well
There are lots of household tasks that play a role in hygiene, as well. Keeping sheets clean, washing towels regularly, and more all help seniors to feel good and stay healthy. Personal care at home can help seniors to take care of these tasks so that they can use their energy on other tasks they’d rather handle themselves.
Help from personal care at home can keep seniors on track with their goals as they age in place. Taking care of personal hygiene tasks may be more difficult as they grow older, but the right help can make these tasks easier.
If you or an aging loved one are considering personal care at home in Woodbury, MN, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.
