Dressing and grooming play large roles in seniors’ daily routines. Maintaining good personal hygiene is vital to preventing ill health. Dressing can impact an elderly individual’s self-esteem. In aged care, it is important to help an older person dress and groom, so they start each day with confidence.

Grooming and dressing are integral to the activities of daily living. Every senior should feel neat and clean on a daily basis, whether the senior is at home or in social situations. Grooming and dressing habits may differ amongst seniors, though, based on personal habits and limitations.

How do caregivers support seniors with grooming?

The tasks involved in grooming help maintain body hygiene and in turn good health. Examples of grooming include filing fingernails, combing hair and, for men, shaving facial hair. Styling hair and painting fingernails are additional types of grooming for which elderly women and men may have personal preferences.

Despite similarities, grooming means different things to different people. Cultural, religious, and social backgrounds tend to influence how seniors choose to groom. Caregivers are encouraged to understand the senior’s definition of what grooming is in order to provide proper assistance with the task.

Once a senior’s needs and preferences for grooming are established, a caregiver is advised to assess how well a senior is able to independently perform grooming routines. Remember that self-reliance can boost confidence; so aim is to remind and encourage but allow the senior to groom independently as much as possible when it is safe to do so.

1. Nail Care

Prevent germs from collecting underneath the senior’s nails by cleaning and filing nails regularly. Long or torn nails can lead to inadvertent scratches and subsequent infections. On the other hand, nails cut too short can lead to ingrown nails and infections.

2. Shaving

Shaving or not shaving facial hair, underarm hair or leg hair are personal choices, ones that may be influenced by cultural norms. Caregivers are urged to assist seniors who shave, in order to prevent nicks and cuts that can lead to infections.

Teach the senior to handle instruments for shaving. When using an electric razor, emphasize the importance of keeping the tool away from water. Instruct seniors to apply warm, soapy water to areas intended to be shaved with a non-electric razor. Cleaning either type of razor afterward is important.

3. Bathing

Bathing two or three times per week, rather than on a daily basis, is often sufficient to ensure seniors’ bodies remain clean. In fact, daily showering may endanger skin health with excessive drying. Showering or bathing removes germs and bacteria from the skin. Additional benefits of bathing include promoting relaxation, pain relief and stimulating circulation. Seniors’ overall well-being increases after a bath.

Safety features recommended for the shower include grab bars, shower hose, and a shower chair in the event the senior becomes tired.

Showering/bathing should always be followed with the application of lotion to soothe dry skin.

4. Skin Care

Skin care in the elderly is important since aging skin is fragile and prone to irritation. Clean, hydrated skin is achieved when seniors wash their faces every day with a gentle cleanser. Pamper dry skin with a fragrance-free moisturizer. Blisters, sores, and other irritations should prompt medical attention.

How do caregivers help seniors dress?

As we age, arthritis, impaired vision and other ailments don’t allow us to easily handle zippers, buttons, or hooks.  Additionally, seniors with dementia may not be able to properly identify the use of an item of clothing . Moreover, dementia patients may not know how to dress for the weather, opting to wear a sundress in cold weather, for example. Caregivers who help these seniors dress prevent them from suffering in inclement conditions.

As with grooming, it is important for caregivers to give care recipients a certain level of independence, based on the individual capabilities. For example, present two to three outfits from which a senior may choose. Offering seniors a few choices gives them a sense of control, while making it easier for them to make decisions.

1. Organize

Laying out clothing in an organized manner helps the senior understand what to put on first. For instance, present the individual with a shirt, then with a cardigan. While handing the senior a piece of clothing, provide specific, step-by-step instructions, such as, “Put your arms through the sleeves.”

2. Simplify

Belts with fancy buckles, pullover sweaters, and shoes with laces may be too difficult for a senior to manage, even with the assistance of a caregiver. Instead, opt for simpler clothing pieces. Velcro fasteners are easier to work with than zippers. Tops that button in front can be removed more readily than pullover ones.

3. Be Flexible

Aging people may have a preference for wearing the same outfit multiple days in a row. Rather than allow seniors to wear unwashed clothes, offer them similar or duplicate outfits. Also ensure that undergarments are washed and clean, as wearing soiled ones can lead to urinary tract infections.

A senior whose appearance is unkempt is likely to need help with dressing and grooming. However, relying on a caregiver for assistance with intimate tasks can be uncomfortable. Discuss the senior’s preferences for personal care assistance early on to help make care feel less invasive.

Sometimes seniors feel more comfortable when someone outside the family provides help with bathing, dressing and other personal care activities. Also, in many cases family caregivers are often exhausted from providing continuous care. When this is the case, families should turn to Assisting Hands Home Care. Our professional caregivers are trained and experienced in providing quality senior care.

Caregivers from our reputable home care agency support seniors with the activities of daily living. We assist older adults with personal hygiene tasks, grocery shopping, light housekeeping, and meal preparation. Our professionals also provide transportation to doctors’ offices, senior centers, and yoga.

Assisting Hands Home Care service providers are bonded, licensed, and insured. Our qualifications ensure that families and their elderly loved ones enjoy peace of mind.

Health and well-being are linked with personal hygiene. When your aging loved one needs help with personal care activities, consult Assisting Hands Home Care. We are privileged to serve seniors living in Boynton Beach, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, West Palm Beach, Florida and surrounding areas. Call us at (561) 566-5989 for dependable senior care solutions.