Caregiving for a loved one can be a challenging job. However, it’s important to remember that the elderly or disabled person you care for is not helpless. They may need some help, but they still have control over their own lives and are responsible for some of them. One way to empower your loved one is by helping them maintain certain daily activities on their own or at least with minimal assistance from others. Here are five ways personal care activities In Pottstown, PA, can help ensure your loved ones stay independent in their daily lives:
Washing
Washing is an important part of your daily life. Washing your hands can help prevent the spread of germs and illnesses. A clean person has fewer sick days than someone who does not wash their hands regularly.
Here are some tips on how to wash your hands properly:
- Wet your hands under running water for at least 20 seconds or until you see bubbles forming around them.
- Apply soap and rub it between your palms for at least 10 seconds, ensuring that you cover all parts of the palm, backside, and between fingers.
- Rinse the soap under warm running water for at least 20 seconds until all suds are removed from all parts of the hand, including the backsides and between fingers.
- Dry with a paper towel or air dry completely before handling food or eating utensils to avoid cross-contamination (a transfer of harmful bacteria from one person/thing to another).
Bathing
Bathing is an important part of keeping your skin clean and healthy. It can be done by yourself or with help from someone else. When bathing, you should use soap to wash your body with water from a sink, tub, or shower. When using a tub for bathing, you should be careful not to slip on the bottom of the tub as it could cause you to fall and hurt yourself. For safety reasons, we recommend that people who have difficulty getting in and out of tubs use showers instead of baths when they are bathing themselves or being bathed by another person.
Dressing
The dressing is one of the most important daily activities you can do for yourself. For this reason, you must choose outfits that are easy to put on and take off. That way, you don’t have to rely on someone else or spend hours trying to get dressed! You also want clothing that allows for freedom of movement so you can be active during your daily routine.
You want easy-to-wash and dry clothing, so you don’t waste time doing laundry (and energy-drying clothes!). Finally, it’s important for your clothes to be comfortable—this means not only feeling good physically but also mentally (for example: if the color makes you happy). In addition, appropriate attire should always match the weather conditions so as not to become overheated or cold while out in public places such as grocery stores or restaurants!
Urinary Continence
Urinary continence is the ability to control bladder function. It is affected by the muscles of the pelvic floor, sphincter muscles, and nerves that control these muscles. Urinary incontinence can occur when one or more of these systems does not work properly. This section focuses on urinary incontinence in adults.
Feeding
Depending on the severity of the patient’s condition, they may be able to feed themselves, or you may need to help them. If the patient is unable to feed themselves, you must continue to monitor their weight and height so that a doctor can note any changes.
Conclusion
This list of daily living activities has helped you get a good idea of what kinds of things need to be done for someone who can’t do them on their own. Remember, these are just some examples—there are probably many more that we didn’t mention here! The important thing is that you understand how each activity impacts the person being cared for and make sure they have enough help at home so they don’t have trouble performing them independently.
