Everyday Personal Care

culled from:va.gov


Helpful Tips
Bathing
•
Plan bathing at the time of day when your loved one has the most energy.
•
Gather all supplies ahead of time. Never leave an unsteady loved one al
one in
the bath or shower.
•
Check the temperature of the water before you start. Make sure the water
is
not “too hot” or “too cold.”
•
Let your loved one do as much as possible. Allow him or her to wash the
parts within reach.
•
Use assistive devices to make ba
thing easier and safer. These can include a
shower bench, non
-
skid bath mats and grab bars.
What if your loved one is bedridden?
If your loved one is bedridden (unable to get out of bed), you can do a bed bath. To
make it easier, perform the bed bath in s
teps.
•
First, cover the body with towels.
•
Wash in sections, removing only 1 towel at a time.
•
Cover the area again after drying. This will provide privacy and keep your
loved one warm.
Dressing
•
Assistive devices, like zipper pulls, can help your loved
one dress themselves.
Velcro
®
*
closures
can be used to replace buttons, zippers and shoe laces.