Personal Care and Activities of Daily Living
Supporting ADLs without taking over
Personal care includes bathing, oral hygiene, grooming, dressing, toileting, eating, and mobility. The goal is not to complete tasks quickly but to keep the resident as independent as safety allows. Explain care, provide privacy, keep the call light within reach, and use a gait belt for transfers. Check water temperature before bathing, wash from clean to dirty, and perform perineal care front to back. Inspect skin at every turn and report redness, breakdown, or new pain. For oral care, brush teeth and gums, remove and clean dentures over a basin lined with a towel, and label dentures. Provide mouth care for an unconscious resident with suction available and without pouring fluids into the mouth.
Feeding is a frequent test area. Seat the resident upright, offer small bites, allow time to chew and swallow, and watch for pocketing, coughing, or a wet voice. Do not rush or feed a resident who is coughing. Encourage self-feeding with adaptive utensils when possible.
The classic trap is dressing order after a stroke: put the garment on the affected or weaker side first, then the stronger side; when undressing, remove the stronger side first. Another trap is doing everything for a resident who can do part of the task. Offer choices and let the resident complete steps.
Worked example: a resident with right-sided weakness needs a shirt. Guide the right sleeve on first, then the left, and adjust the shirt while respecting her preference.