If your loved one is having trouble with personal hygiene, it can be difficult for you and the rest of the family. When bad hygiene becomes a major issue in your loved one’s life, it can be difficult to know where to start and what exactly is causing such issues. However, there are several reasons why someone may have poor hygiene habits that you can look into to try and get them back on track. Here we’ll cover some common causes of declining personal hygiene and what you can do about them!
Physical Disability Or Pain
If a person is too weak to perform personal hygiene tasks, they may be unable to do them independently. If you suspect this is the case, you should talk to your loved one’s doctor. The doctor will be able to recommend ways in which you can help them keep clean and healthy until they are strong enough for self-care again.
Mental Health Issues
Mental health issues can be a factor. Mental health issues can include depression, anxiety, and dementia. They also can be a symptom of other conditions. It’s important to remember that the general state of your loved one’s mental health is often indicative of how they care for themselves—and you should speak with their doctor if you’re concerned about how this may impact them or their overall well-being.
The Lack Of Proper Medical Care
If your loved one is not getting the medical care they need, it could be due to a lack of access. In many cases, people with dementia will not have easy access to their primary care physician or a local hospital. If this happens and you are unable to get them into assisted living care where there is appropriate medical care for those with dementia, it is important that you provide them with all of the other necessities like hygiene products.
If your loved one has regular access to medical professionals but is still not receiving adequate care, then perhaps they don’t know how important personal hygiene can be for their health and happiness. One way you can help fix this problem is by providing them with additional education on proper personal hygiene techniques and resources that teach these techniques in an easy-to-understand manner (such as books).
Delirium And Dementia
Both delirium and dementia are common conditions among the elderly. Both can cause poor personal hygiene, but they’re different enough that it’s important to identify which one your loved one is suffering from.
Delirium occurs when a person loses consciousness or awareness of their surroundings for a short period of time. They may be confused, disoriented, or anxious and experience hallucinations or delusions (false beliefs).
Dementia involves progressive loss of mental abilities due to damage to brain cells over time. The effects can be mild or severe and include memory loss, confusion, and difficulty with communication skills, such as speaking properly or reading words aloud correctly.
Depression
Depression is a mental health condition that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It is common for people with depression to experience changes in their eating and sleeping habits and engage in less physical activity than is typical for them.
Depression can be caused by genetics, brain chemistry, life events, and personality traits like introversion or neuroticism (nervousness). It may also be triggered by certain medications or substance use, such as alcohol or drugs.
People dealing with depression may stop taking care of themselves because they feel worthless and helpless; this can lead to serious issues like weight gain due to overeating or lack of exercise.
