Loved ones in their 60s and above typically need more special attention compared to the rest of the population. It’s important to not take anything for granted, since this could send their health and wellbeing spiraling out of control. Understanding the needs of a loved one is important even for tasks such as choosing the ideal retirement community for them.
An element of care that is easy to neglect is personal hygiene. Maintaining decent personal hygiene seems as simple as showering, keeping hair and nails clean and all, but for loved ones there is more to it than meets the eye. There are special considerations that have to be accounted for to make sure that their personal hygiene does not result in a poor quality of life. These include:
Identify Causes of Personal Hygiene Neglect
If there has been a case of personal hygiene neglect, the first step is to find out its genesis. This will greatly help you find a lasting solution to the problem. Some of the more common problems leading to poor hygiene include reduced mobility, inability to access necessary resources such as showers and lack of physical strength to perform day to day hygiene. The latter is particularly prominent when the loved one has a comorbid condition, such as suffering from the effects of a past stroke.
Knowing the causes of poor hygiene development can also help in identifying the best retirement community for them. Discovery Village at Southlake offers senior assisted living options tailored to individual needs. Whatever the needs of your loved one are, you can be sure that they will be met when they stay with us. Our team members are highly trained to work with them in a professional and dignified manner. You can also check out our floor plans for loved ones who may need living facilities that make it easier to move around.
Make the Bathroom Safe
The bathroom is essential for personal hygiene, and is also one of the commonest places for accidents and death to happen to over 60’s. To prevent this, make sure that the risk of slipping and falling is mitigated by installing handrails and floor surfaces that have enough friction to prevent slipping even when there’s soapy water. Hot water shower heads should be properly installed to minimize the risk of electrocution. You can also choose to install a bench in the shower to make showering easier and safer for them.
Get a Hygiene Routine
By making sure that your loved one has a routine when performing personal hygiene activities, you can ensure that they don’t forget to practice some personal hygiene activities. These include showering, brushing teeth and washing their hair. Daily routines when repeated in the same manner every day will help establish a routine that they won’t break.
Use Professional Support
In some cases, you may need to seek the help of a professional to take care of your loved one, particularly when it comes to cleaning them on a daily basis. If this has to happen in a retirement community, it pays to pick one that is well-staffed with professionals who are experienced in providing this type of care.
