Personal care is important for everyone but especially when it comes to a senior’s overall health. As we age, we are much more likely to begin to experience health problems. Being well-groomed and maintaining good personal hygiene is a good way to support continued positive self-feelings.

Stay on Top of Grooming

One of the biggest things that can impact a senior is the way they feel about themselves. When someone is unhappy with their appearance, it can have a negative impact on their health and other aspects of their life. Staying well-groomed and clean is important for promoting happiness and satisfaction. Home care professionals can help with this aspect of senior care if assistance is needed with certain personal grooming tasks.

Daily Bathing and Hygiene

To ensure the continued health and wellbeing of seniors, bathing and hygiene are important. A senior’s skin is more sensitive than most and needs to be taken care of. Whether the senior needs to be sponge bathed or requires assistance in the shower or tub to ensure their safety, these hygiene-related tasks should be followed through, including skincare and dental hygiene tasks.

Better Mobility

If a senior experiences severe mobility problems, they may need assistance accomplishing tasks like getting out of bed in the morning and moving safely around their living space. Safety is a high priority for seniors because those struggling with mobility are more likely to experience falls and injuries. Personal care for seniors should include stretching and other exercises daily to keep them in good shape and maintain joint mobility.

More Socialization

Socialization is also an important aspect of personal care that should not be ignored. When time is taken for socializing, it helps seniors feel less alone and less isolated. It also promotes better memory retention. As a part of personal care, seniors need to attend community events and interact with people as much as possible. 

Increased Mental Stimulation

Even smaller activities done at home can prove important personal care for seniors. For example, crossword puzzles and brain teasers are good for mental stimulation. They keep the mind active and engaged and promote improved mental functionality. Including these activities into a senior’s daily routine is important and can lead to a more positive outlook on life and more success when it comes to daily personal accomplishments.

Healthy Living

Personal care and good hygiene are important to healthy living, especially for seniors. Personal care helps a person maintain good physical health and can boost a senior’s mental health and wellbeing as well. However, when a senior begins to feel lonely or isolated or fails to keep up with hygiene, their health can be negatively impacted.

Recent studies have found that social isolation can significantly increase a person’s risk of premature death from all causes and is associated with an approximate 50% increased risk of dementia. 

Declining Health

Declining personal hygiene in seniors can cause bacteria to accumulate, and this bacteria can contribute to health complications such as head lice, athlete’s foot, and scabies. It can also cause parasites to grow on the skin and cause parasitic diseases.

Cognitive impairments affect some seniors and can cause a decline in personal care and hygiene. For example, those with Alzheimer’s or dementia may require the assistance of caregivers to ensure they continue practicing good hygiene.

As you can see, personal care for seniors is vital to their overall health and wellbeing and is essential to their happiness. If assistance is required, make sure to find compassionate caregivers that can assure your loved ones are being taken care of.