Supporting a loved one with personal hygiene care

Some Safety Tips

Being a caregiver sometimes means assisting loved ones with their personal hygiene, a task that involves several risks for both people. How can you ensure that it is carried out safely while promoting the independence of the person you are assisting?

First, much of safety depends on the environment in which care is provided. Several assistive devices can be used to make these daily activities easier.

In addition, procedures and techniques can be used to maximize the safety of both the caregiver and the person receiving care.

Above all, what matters most is the relationship of trust and respect that must exist between the two people sharing this type of intimacy.

An adapted bathroom to prevent the risk of injury

The general guideline for personal hygiene care is to avoid standing in the bathtub or shower, as this involves many risks, particularly falls.

Here are some assistive devices and adaptations that can help prevent falls:  http://asstsas.qc.ca/sites/default/files/publications/documents/b_salle_de_bain_sad_2015.pdf

• Bathtub transfer benches: getting into the bathtub can sometimes be risky. Using a transfer bench, with or without a backrest, makes it easier to enter the tub in a seated position.
• Transfer chairs or benches: these devices can be installed in either a bathtub or shower. They allow the person to complete all their personal hygiene care while seated.
• Removable showerheads—handheld showerheads with a shut-off switch: this type of showerhead means the person does not have to move around to rinse while also controlling the water flow. Some can be installed near the faucets when the person needs to perform their care while seated.
• Non-slip mats: they are ideal for preventing slips. Suction-cup models should be prioritized for use inside the bathtub because they stay more securely in place. Regular non-slip mats can, however, be used outside the bathtub or shower.

Grab bars can be installed to help people with transfers. Vertical wall-mounted bars installed inside the bathtub are ideal for stepping over the tub wall.

Diagonal bars installed on the inside walls are useful for support during personal hygiene care or for positioning oneself more easily on transfer benches and chairs.

Removable handles are also available for the bathtub rim to help people stand up if they are seated.

Regardless of which bars are chosen, they must be installed safely so that they are properly anchored and stable.

For more advice on adapting your bathroom, here is some very useful documentation to consult.

To ensure that the work carried out is safe and suited to your shared circumstances, consulting experts in the field is recommended. Whether you seek advice from healthcare professionals, such as occupational therapists, or from specialists at specialty stores, do not hesitate to ask questions so you can obtain the best products and learn about their installation and use.

Movements and techniques to make personal hygiene care easier

Do not exceed your limits

The risks of falls and injuries are significant when providing personal hygiene care at home. In hospitals and care centres, all care attendants receive specialized training in this area. Therefore, assisting a loved one with their hygiene routine at home does not mean taking full responsibility for their care. Caution is always essential, and asking for advice to learn how to provide care or obtain support services is a must. Continuing to provide care at home without professional help, while ignoring your own limits and those of the other person, is a trap to avoid at all costs.

Be aware that home support services, such as occupational therapy, may be available through the CLSC or community health centre in your area. In all cases, professionals will assess the support needs of you and your loved one and determine which support services you are entitled to in order to meet them. In addition, social economy enterprises offer, among other services, assistance with personal hygiene care at home.

Aids and products to prevent infections

In general, personal hygiene care helps prevent certain infections and maintain the protective function of the skin and mucous membranes, but above all, it ensures the person’s comfort and well-being.

Some people may be inclined to space out baths or showers because of the extent and complexity of the task. This is not an unreasonable reaction, but it should be accompanied by other alternatives to prevent infections from developing. Using wet cleansing gloves makes it possible to complete all personal hygiene care, except hair washing, without using water. They can be used more easily and quickly than cleaning in the shower or bathtub.

Another way to prevent the spread of infections is to use specialized hygiene products. For example, when a loved one lives with incontinence, a commode chair or urinal kits can be used to make this daily activity easier. Hygienic liners complete the setup by making it easier to collect and transport waste.

Establish a routine to make care easier

Movements are always smoother and more confident when they are part of a pre-established routine. For example, preparing and gathering all the items and products you will need will save you from having to move around during care. Make sure you have soap, shampoo, towels, washcloths, a comb, a razor, etc., within reach from the start. Warm the room thoroughly before your loved one arrives and test the water temperature with them so it is comfortable for them. Also prepare a bathrobe or dry, warm clothes to use as soon as they get out of the bath.

Build a relationship of trust that supports personal hygiene care

Assisting a loved one with personal hygiene care, an act often marked by modesty and reluctance, requires a solid relationship to ensure everyone’s comfort.

Allowing your loved one to participate as much as possible in the care routine, according to their abilities, is an approach that promotes dignity and independence. If you need to provide part or all of the care, it is best to explain the different movements you are making and are about to make so that your loved one feels reassured.

Some parts of the body, because of their symbolism and sensitivity, may cause discomfort between you and your parent. Washing the least sensitive parts first, such as the feet or hands, allows you to ease gently into the other person’s intimate space. You can also let the person decide the order of the steps according to their preferences and comfort level.

Communication remains the key element in making personal hygiene care easier. Do not hesitate to ask questions to check the other person’s comfort and their ability to perform certain tasks or movements.

Preserve independence for as long as possible

In the next article, we will offer some tips for remaining as active as possible for as long as possible in the care that concerns us. How can we participate as fully as possible despite the assistance we may receive? How can we encourage our loved one to continue certain daily activities despite their loss of independence? We will try to answer these questions through concrete and practical examples.

Interesting links:

• Directory of CLSCs in Quebec
• Directory of community health centres
• Directory of home support cooperatives (Quebec)
• Home Adaptation Program (Quebec)
• Home Adaptations for Seniors’ Independence Program (Canada)
• Joint Association for Occupational Health and Safety in the Social Affairs Sector (brochure on organizing the bathroom for home care)

Article written by Gabrielle Coulombe