1. PERSONAL HYGIENE
CHAPTER 29

2. PERSONAL HYGIENE Personal hygiene promotes comfort, safety and health.
It involves activities that clean the skin, teeth, mouth and peri-neal area.
Some clients only need minimal assistance, some will need full assistance with hygiene
Culture and personal choice also affect hygiene.
Most people have hygiene routines and habits.
Remember, clients may feel frustrated, angry and embarrassed because they need help with personal care.
Always promote DIPPS

3. PERSONAL HYGIENE Daily care may include: AM care (early morning care)
Afternoon care
HS care

4. PERSONAL HYGIENE ORAL HYGIENE
Oral hygiene keeps the mouth and teeth clean.
This prevents mouth odours and infections.
It also increases comfort and make food taste better.
EQUIPMENT
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Dental Floss
Mouthwash
Bite guard

5. PERSONAL HYGIENE OBSERVATIONS Dry, cracked, swollen or blistered lips
Redness, swelling, irritation, sores or white patches in the mouth or on the tongue
Bleeding, swelling or redness of the gums
Loose teeth
Rough, sharp or chipped dentures
C/o pain or discomfort
PSW’s may have to perform the following:
Brushing the teeth
Flossing
Mouth care for the unconscious client
Denture care

6. PERSONAL HYGIENE BATHING
Bathing cleans the skin, mucous membranes and perineal areas.
A bath can also be refreshing and relaxing and promotes circulation.
A bath can give you time to get to know your client.
Baths can be complete, partial, shower or tub.
The method used depends on the person’s condition, self-care abilities, care plan, and personal choice.

7. PERSONAL HYGIENE OBSERVATIONS
The colour of the skin, lips, nail beds, and sclera
Rashes
Dry skin
Bruises/open skin
Pale or reddened areas
Draining or bleeding
Swelling
Corns/calluses
Skin temp
C/o pain or discomfort

8. PERSONAL HYGIENE BATHING PROBLEMS Client refuses a bath
Client has dementia
Client cannot tolerate the bathing position
Client urinates or has a BM
Hardened secretions or stool on the clients body
Client has an erection

9. PERSONAL HYGIENE PERICARE Involves cleaning the genital an anal areas.
Cleaning prevents infection and odours as well as promoting comfort.
OBSERVATIONS
Odours
Redness/swelling/discharge or irritation
C/o pain, burning or other discomfort
Signs of urinary or fecal incontinence

10. COMPLETE BED BATH Gather all supplies Gloves Bath blanket Bath Basin
K basin
Soap
2 wash cloths
2 towels
Lotion
Deodorant
Toothbrush/paste
Hairbrush/comb
Clean clothes

11. COMPLETE BED BATH Ensure privacy (close doors/drapes)
Introduce yourself and explain the procedure
Raise the bed/ensure brakes are on and bed is flat
Move the resident to the side of the bed near you
Cover resident with a bath blanket & remove clothing
Drape a towel across the resident’s chest
Ensure proper water temp
Make a bath mitt
Wash eyes (no soap, inner corner to outer corner)
Wash face/ears/neck
Rinse/pat dry

12. COMPLETE BED BATH
Place towel along the resident’s arm farthest from you
Wash hand/arm/shoulder/axilla using long firm strokes, rinse and pat dry (perform ROM and observe the skin)
Repeat for arm closest to you
Place towel across resident’s chest and pull down bath blanket to the waist
Wash chest/abd/under the breasts, dry thoroughly (observe the skin and try not to expose the resident)
Cover resident with bath blanket
Expose and place a towel along the leg farthest from you
Wash leg with long firm upward strokes, rinse, pat dry
Repeat for leg closest to you (observe and ROM)

13. COMPLETE BED BATH Turn resident on their side facing away from you
Expose and place towel along the back and buttocks
Wash the back/buttocks with long, firm strokes. Rinse/pat dry
Give back massage if time permits…….which it won’t
Place resident on their back and cover with bath blanket
CHANGE WATER/GLOVES
PERICARE
Have resident flex their knees
FEMALE – separate labia, wipe downward with one stroke, repeat until clean, using a different part of the washcloth for each stroke, rinse, dry

14. COMPLETE BED BATH MALE – retract foreskin if uncircumcised
Grasp penis and clean the tip using a circular motion from urethra outwards, rinse, pat dry and return foreskin to its natural position
Clean the shaft of the penis using downwards strokes, rinse, dry
Turn resident onto their back
Separate buttocks and clean rectal area from front to back, rinse, dry