A good hygiene is synonymous with good health and excellent wellbeing. Even for a senior person, maintaining good hygiene can boost their emotional and physical wellness. However, as nature would have it, some age-related conditions can keep an older adult from caring for themselves. There’s chronic pain, mobility problems, and physical weakness that potentially prevent an elderly to take care of their bodies on their own.

It’s a good thing that caregivers in Alberta, Canada can provide this basic personal care for seniors who are no longer able to do it themselves. Among the hygiene habits that every person, especially homebound seniors, should practice include the following:

• Bathing

  For seniors, bathing may not be done daily. The elderly age can limit a person’s tolerance to cold, which is what usually happens in bathing. Daily bathing can also easily dry up a senior’s skin, which is not good for them. Senior bathing can be done every other day or as often as possible. It’s also important to remember washing their hair, armpits, limbs, and folded skin parts to ensure well-cleaned body.

• Nail trimming

  Toenails and fingernails can be infected if they’re not trimmed. Aside from that, dirt can also accumulate under the nails which can possibly carry infection or bacteria. Some illnesses also cause brittle nails, so that these get unevenly broken. With uneven nails, wounds can happen when the skin is scratched, and this is a risky occurrence for someone with diabetes.

• Teeth brushing and flossing

  Seniors can especially develop halitosis or bad breath as they easily have dry mouth, which is a good breeding ground for bacteria. To help address this, brushing and flossing are basic preventive measures. Every after meal for at least twice a day, brush and floss the teeth. When teeth are replaced by dentures, ensure that these are also cleaned and removed each night before sleeping.

• Hand washing

  Infection can be easily passed around by the hands. So if you are attending to a senior loved one at home, especially if you’re feeding them and administering their grooming needs, ensure you have clean hands. Handwashing is a basic practice of caregivers in a homecare in Alberta, Canada as they carry about their tasks.

• Sleeping

  Definitely, sleeping is a benefit for every person of all ages. However, seniors may have sleeping issues brought about by their illnesses. You can incorporate sleeping stimulants such as calm music in the background, newly changed sleeping attire, and newly fixed bedding. These can help a senior person sleep well. Ideally, a minimum of eight hours of straight sleep is good for them.

Do you have a senior family member who needs this kind of assistance at home? At Royal Home Caregivers, we can aid your loved one in maintaining their basic hygiene so that they can also stay clean and well-groomed. This way, their physical, mental, and emotional health are pampered. Feel free to contact us.

Don’t forget to share this helpful information with a friend or loved one.