Good hygiene is important for senior health, happiness, and quality of life.
If you’re caring for a bed-bound senior, here’s a short checklist to help bed-bound seniors with hygiene each day.
Hygiene Checklist:
1. Did you open the windows today?
Pull back the shades, open the windows, and get some fresh air and sunlight in the room.
For seniors stuck indoors all day, this is one of the healthiest habits you can do for them. Morning sunshine will help seniors sleep well at night, as well as boost their moods. And, the fresh air will help clean out the room.
2. Have you cleaned the room recently?
When it comes to room cleaning there are two types to keep in mind: tidying and cleansing.
Tidying means picking up laundry, organizing surfaces, and making the room feel overall calm and peaceful. Cleansing means dusting the window sills, vacuuming the rug, and mopping the floor.
You don’t have to do both types of cleaning all the time. Instead, keep a rotating schedule for yourself. This way, you can be sure that one is not getting neglected for the other.
A clean and organized environment does wonders for both mental and physical health.
3. How many hours has your senior been in the same position?
One of the most common mistakes when caring for bed-bound seniors is forgetting to change their position.
When lying in the same spot all day long, it’s likely for seniors to develop bed sores.
Bed-sores may sound like no big deal, but they can actually turn into much larger medical problems down the road. Bed-sores that are left unattended can turn into open wounds, which can easily get infected.
To avoid this, make sure your senior switches positions in bed regularly. Sitting up, lying down, head propped up, head laid down, arms wide open, arms flat down- there’s a plethora of positions that your senior can relax in throughout the day.
And, don’t forget to use pillows for safety and comfort!
4. Is it bath time?
Even though your senior is sitting indoors all day, it’s still important to bathe your senior and wash his or her hair frequently.
If your senior can’t make it to the shower, take a wash cloth and basin, and wipe your senior down in bed. You can put down towels underneath your senior to keep the bed dry.
5. When did you last change the sheets?
It’s not enough just to bathe your senior, you have to change the bed sheets too. Maybe not as often as bathing, but certainly often enough.
Every night, bed sheets collect up to one liter of sweat.
That’s a lot of sweat just waiting to grow bacteria.
Keep your senior clean and remember to change the bed sheets and pillow cases at least once a week.
Aurora Home Care
Caring for another human being can be stressful. If you’re getting overwhelmed caring for your bed-bound senior, don’t be afraid to ask for some professional help.
At Aurora Home Care we provide care and education to help caregivers and seniors live their best lives possible. Our friendly and compassionate staff coordinate with your schedule, so you don’t have to worry about changing your lifestyle. And our home care aides work directly in conjunction with your senior’s doctor to provide personalized care to your bed-bound senior.
Give us a call today at 215-354-4444, to get our professional help!
