After the articles dedicated to cleaning dependent people eva lawrenceSocial Worker and blog author now offers us a series of indications related to the correct hygiene habits related to the clothing, footwear and grooming.
Hygiene does not begin and end with grooming… Clothes, haircuts, footwear, accessories and/or makeup are important signs of our social identity that define us and even show our emotional state. He personal grooming It is a necessary habit in a person’s daily routine and influences their image and social acceptance, but sometimes it can be affected by a situation of disability or a chronic illness.
It is very important that in these cases the caregiver encourages and promotes the maintenance of a dignified and adequate appearance in the person they care for, respecting their preferences and adapting them to their needs if necessary, but always trying to avoid overprotection.
maintain autonomy in activities related to personal grooming is important because:
- An adequate personal presentation has a great value of acceptance and social recognition
- Autonomy in these activities dignifiessince these are tasks that are related to the privacy of the person
- Carrying out some personal care activities independently increases the self-esteem and improves mood
The goals to mark us in relation to this activity of daily life are:
- get some proper hygienic habitsenhancing the basic knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary
- protect and maintain dignity of the person in a situation of dependency, increasing their level of self-esteem with the improvement of their physical appearance
- promote the self caregiving you the highest level of independence and autonomy possible
Depending on the type or degree of dependency and/or disability, your task in this sense will be aimed at supporting, supervising, replacing or teaching. So, in the case of a person with Alzheimer’s For example, the work that you will carry out will be to support and supervise all the small tasks that entail personal grooming, until the moment in which you have to do it all yourselves due to the total loss of autonomy of your family member. However, in case of paraplegia, hemiplegia or loss of limbsyour main function will be to assist but at the same time teach, and thus be able to promote the independence of the person you care for, that is, to show them the steps to follow so that over time, it is he/she who takes them to cape.
Some tips to follow
- Personal grooming tasks, undressing, dressing require both physical (balance, coordination, mobility, strength and dexterity) and cognitive (memory, attention, logical reasoning…) skills. It will be necessary conduct an autonomy assessment as soon as possible, to establish in which areas the person is independent, and in which they need your practice and/or learning.
- The caregiver must promote and facilitate independence of everyone you care for by supervising and supporting only when necessary. For the best understanding of your relative you must examine the task that you want to carry out and divide it into simple steps. Let him go through as many steps as possible, do only one simple command at a time, etc. You can use mime or do it first so that it imitates you. Do not be in a hurry and offer him all the time he needs. Invite, if possible, the person you are caring for to look in the mirror while doing it and give positive reinforcement once it is over.
- An important factor is the choice of garments for avoid the appearance of abandonment and neglect. Even if our family member is at home all day, they must continue to transmit a good appearance and we will have to stimulate them daily so that, to the best of their ability and with our support, they continue to get dressed and dressed instead of spending all day in pajamas and slippers. Clean clothes and shoes and personal care help to have a good image and thus promote their self-esteem. Select the clothes according to his preferences and encourage him to participate in his choice.
- Before beginning with the dress and grooming make sure that the room it is at an adequate room temperature, that there is privacy and sufficient light and that everything you need is ready and nearby. The place should be comfortable, private and, if possible, free from interruptions that could disorient or make your family member uncomfortable.
- When there are cognitive problems, it is important to remember that the personal grooming process must always be the same for create a routine. It is also necessary that you have placed in order all the clothes or accessories that you are going to use. Remember: explain step by step what you are going to do and if necessary you can show it to them and comment on aspects such as color, what it is for, etc. this will help build trust and prevent him from feeling disoriented, afraid, or aggressive.
- Simplify the wardrobe eliminating what you do not use regularly or does not correspond to the season of the year in which you are. Your family member should dress appropriately and according to the ambient temperature, without forgetting that, due to inactivity, age and reduced circulation, older people maintain a slightly lower temperature than usual. Also avoid being covered excessively, since you run the risk of causing dehydration.
- at the time of undressTake out the upper garments first, then the lower ones, and finally the shoes. And to dress, start first with the lower part of the body. It is advisable that it be done with your family member seated, if this is not possible, remember that they always have something stable to hold on to. If the person has to be dressed in bed, we will place the lower body clothing first, then the upper body. To place socks or stockings, it will be more comfortable for you to rest your feet on a bench or small stool. If your family member has an impaired arm or leg, he will always begin to dress for said affected limb and will finish with the healthy one (to remove the clothes, do the opposite). Once the clothes are on, we will turn the person to check it and adjust it well to the body.
- There are many on the market supporting products that favor independence and can help you have moments of rest in certain tasks of daily life (shoehorns, button fasteners…).
- In relation to clothes you should avoid that which is difficult to put on: tight garments, narrow necks and cuffs, fabrics that are not very elastic, etc. It is best that it be loose to allow freedom and range of movement and, if possible, with a front opening. Try to use elastic and velcro straps as substitutes for fasteners, buttons and zippers. Putting larger buttons or rings on the zippers can also be an option to make the task easier.
- Bet on the natural fabrics (cotton) for both inner and outer garments as they are fresh, breathable and easy to wash/iron. And make sure that the clothes do not have pressure points that hinder circulation and prevent proper breathing.
- In relation to footwear, try to get your family member to use comfortable shoes, that do not squeeze, with a non-slip rubber sole, that hold the foot and that have a wide opening so that they are more comfortable to put on the foot. Shoes without laces or with a sailboat are advisable. In any case, footwear must adapt as much as possible to the figure of the foot, avoiding narrowness that can deform it and impede the mobility of the fingers. Heels for women will be low (2-4cm) and wide. Footwear must be breathable (preferably leather). If insoles are used, they must be the same as the inside of the shoe to avoid chafing or discomfort. Before putting on the shoes, check the inside to make sure there are no creases, cracks, stones, etc.
- It is important that people in a situation of dependency do not lose Motivation to maintain and enhance their physical appearance through the use of perfumes, makeup, creams, accessories. To do this, as caregivers and as far as possible you must encourage and / or maintain these customs whatever their status. You will simply adapt the old habits to the new reality: paint only the mouth and blush avoiding eye makeup, which is more complicated, use pastel tones since they do not require as much precision, etc. And if she can still put on makeup on her own, we must make the task easier for her by making thickenings or attaching them to an extension cord on the lids or surfaces where they are held so that they have to apply less force and are easier to use.
- It is advisable to take the person to a hair salon trustworthy, talk to the professional about her condition and, if necessary, be by her side while she is being combed. Or request a manicure, pedicure or hairdresser’s home service if your family member does not want or cannot go out.
About the author: eva lawrence
eva lawrence She is a Social Worker and a large part of her working life and training have revolved around caring for the elderly and people with functional diversity in a situation of dependency, who needed the help of a caregiver, this being, in most cases, of his family environment.
He also has knowledge and experience in other areas in which a social worker can carry out his work (employment guidance, women, immigration, family, minors…). Currently she is looking for a job and has decided that there is no better way to spend her time than helping others through her blog.