Laundry & Light Housekeeping
As a person ages, they may experience challenges with maintaining personal hygiene due to declining mobility and dementia. Typical tasks like bathing can become problematic especially among individuals with cognitive impairment due to fear, confusion, or simply a need to preserve autonomy.
When signs of personal neglect, such as an unkempt appearance, strong body odor, or dirty clothing become evident, it's time to hire professional help. Life Care at Home provides personal care services to help seniors maintain their dignity and independence in the comfort of their homes.
What Does Personal Care and Grooming Entail?
Personal care for seniors incorporates a wide range of services that assist individuals in maintaining their hygiene and appearance. Because needs vary based on health and mobility, we first assess the level of help required and then discuss it with the involved parties. Once we determine preferred assistance, our carers offer support with tasks such as:
Toileting and Incontinence Care
Incontinence and proper toileting are sensitive matters. Our caregivers handle these tasks with discretion and respect for your loved one's dignity. We create an environment that minimizes any embarrassment associated with said activities.
Hygiene Assistance
Seniors must shower thrice a week to prevent the risk of developing issues, such as dermatitis neglecta and urinary tract infections that arise from infrequent bathing. Keeping up with their appearance can be a huge morale booster among older people.
Our personal care services include assistance with bathing, hair washing, and other grooming activities like shaving, applying makeup, choosing outfits, etc.
Positioning and Transferring
Seniors who are bedridden or have impaired movement require transferring and positioning services to prevent muscle atrophy and bedsores. Our caregivers are skilled in safely moving and positioning clients to avert injuries.
Mobility and Fall Prevention
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 20% of falls among seniors result in critical head injuries and hip fractures, which lead to costly hospitalizations. Our in-home caregivers work proactively to ensure the home is fall-proof by assisting with daily tasks and supervising activities such as bathing.
Why Is Personal Care and Grooming Important?
Most aging or physically-challenged individuals need help with daily tasks like bathing, continence care, skincare, and dressing up.
Poor hygiene can lead to a buildup of dead skin cells, dirt, and sweat on the skin, which can trigger or worsen conditions such as psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema. Even if a senior is not highly active, bathing several times a week and moisturizing can keep their skin healthy.
Consistent foot care will hinder ingrown nails and calluses known to cause discomfort and mobility issues.
Maintaining good oral hygiene by routinely brushing, flossing, and cleaning dentures helps reduce the risk of cavities and gum issues like periodontal disease. Such conditions are linked to stroke and heart disease.
Regular bathing and wearing clean clothes are necessary to avoid body odor. This aspect of personal care is not only important for an individual's comfort but also for maintaining social relationships and promoting self-esteem.
A healthy appearance contributes to positive self-esteem and mental well-being. Seniors who take pride in their looks often experience improved mood and confidence.
Pro Tip: Personal care regimen can help detect early signs of health complications. Caregivers may notice unusual changes in the body during grooming activities, thus allowing for early intervention and treatment.
Contact Life Care at Home to Learn More About Our Services
If you're concerned about your loved one's ability to manage personal care tasks safely and independently, the Life Care at Home team can help. We appreciate that every senior has specific care requirements and preferences; our goal is to support them in living fulfilling, independent, and dignified lives in their homes.
Our services include in-home companionship, transportation, meal preparation, round-the-clock care, medication reminders, laundry, and light housekeeping. If you're in the Chicago, IL - Hyde Park neighborhood, call us at 773-906-4681 to discuss your needs and answer any questions you may have.