Essential Hygiene Tips for the Elderly
By Ewa Frydel, Owner
Though we aren’t teenagers in need of education about personal hygiene, all of us need to put in some extra care in this department. It’s a societal rule.
For seniors, this is especially important because good hygiene can help promote physical health and as a bonus, good mental health and an overall quality of life. When we take care of our bodies, we tend to have a positive outlook on life.
How can we help our senior loved ones practice good hygiene?
How can we promote a clean and healthy lifestyle?
Read on!
Essential Hygiene Tips for Seniors:
Hands. Handwashing is vital at keeping unwanted bacteria and germs away from our most used body parts. Many elderly people have thinner skin which can sustain cuts or other wounds. Keeping the area clean and sanitized can help prevent infections.
Oral care. Regular brushing and flossing can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. If your senior wears dentures, be sure they are soaked and brushed each day when not in use, typically before bedtime.
Bathing. Like with hands, keeping your senior’s skin clean all over their body helps prevent infections. It also helps keep rashes away and body odors. If your senior is afraid to bathe, make sure their shower has grab bars and non-slip rugs. Having a seat available in the tub is also helpful to prevent falls. Shower heads can be handheld for easier comfort.
Personal care products. Not all products are meant for all people. Choosing the right cleansing formulas should be considered for each senior. For instance, you might favor one that is moisturizing or one suitable for sensitive skin. This also depends on the season you’re in. During the hotter months, you’ll want lighter formulas that aren’t too heavy and in the colder months, choosing thicker creams can keep skin moisturized and prevent cracking or becoming overly dry.
Heavy perfumes can irritate aging skin. You can try brands that are plant-based and not made with synthetic scents, rather choose ones with essential oils.
Nail care. Many caregivers cannot clip fingernails or toenails. If you have a caregiver providing personal care, you may need to step in to help with nail care. Having overly grown out nails can increase the risk of infection, hangnails, and breaking. Clip or file nails to keep them short and neat, which is helpful for avoiding ingrown nails and bacterial growth.
Incontinence management. Incontinence products should be absorbent. Diapers and pads can provide comfort while maintaining cleanliness. Many seniors benefit from a leak-proof pad on their bed sheets or under a fitted sheet to keep their mattress clean. Consider this for their favorite chair, as well.
Laundry. It’s common for seniors to repeat the same outfit each day. Laundry can be a tedious task to get to and having one pair of pants or one shirt available is helpful to them. However, this is not entirely sanitary. If you find that your senior has a laundry pile growing in their hamper, consider a caregiver to help out or visit often to run a load of laundry yourself.
Find clothes that do not require drying. Fry-fit clothing rinses out well in the wash and can dry quickly if hung up immediately. This can help eliminate a step during the laundry process.
Foot care. This requires a little more help than skin on other parts of the body. Feet can accumulate dirt, dry out, and crack easily if not treated properly. Feet do get thirsty! Try foot baths, pumice stones, and heavy creams. Find non-slip slippers or socks for your senior to wear. In the summer, open toe slippers can be helpful.
In the winter, you can apply a thick layer of oil to your senior’s feet and apply a sock over them until their skin absorbs most of the oil. Wipe well to prevent slipping.
In truth, these are all practices we can incorporate now, whether we’re seniors or not. Building great hygiene habits now will make the self-care process easier as we get older.
If you are just starting to notice signs of poor hygiene with your elderly parent, talk to them about giving themselves a little more tender love and care. You may need to start helping out yourself or call on the aid of a caregiver.
For more information on personal care and essential hygiene, contact us.
We’re here to help!
Legal Disclaimer
This blog provides general information and discussions about hygienic tips for the elderly and are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice.
