Personal Care and Hygiene
Core concepts
Personal care is where dignity is most easily lost, so questions favor privacy, choice, and independence. Close the door and curtain, drape the resident, and let them do what they can: wash their own face, hold the toothbrush, choose the order of care. Bathe with warm - not hot - water and test the temperature before the resident gets in. Wash from clean to dirty: eyes with a separate corner of the washcloth, inner to outer; perineal care front to back, with a fresh area of cloth each stroke.
Mouth care: brush teeth and gums; for an unconscious resident, place them on their side, use minimal water, and do not put unprotected fingers in the mouth. Dentures are removed, brushed over a basin of water (or a towel, in case they drop), and stored in a labeled cup of cool water - not hot, which warps them.
Shave with an electric razor unless the resident uses a safety razor; never use a blade on a resident taking blood thinners. Inspect skin, especially pressure areas, during every bath.
Traps
'Back to front' perineal care - wrong. 'Soaking dentures in hot water' - wrong. 'Washing eyes outward to inward' - wrong. 'Rushing through a bath to save time' - wrong; it is a dignity violation.
Rule of thumb
Clean to dirty, front to back, inner to outer. Change the washcloth area or the water before moving to a dirtier area.
Worked example
A resident with an indwelling catheter needs perineal care. Wash front to back, clean around the catheter tubing without pulling it, use a fresh cloth for each stroke, rinse and dry thoroughly, and report any redness, drainage, or odor.