Wellness Wednesday: Hygiene and It's Role in Wellness

+ 7 Tips for Elderly Hygiene Routines

---

Washing your hands improves your health.

Hygiene is two-thirds of health.      

Proverb

Many people might not think of hygiene when it comes to wellness. Wellness is more of yoga, meditation, eating your five fruits and veggies each day, right? Wrong. Wellness and health is so much more. And in reality, hygiene actually has a direct link to your wellness level and plays a vital role in the journey to increase your overall wellness. This is especially important when it comes to the elderly and those needing home care. Without help, these seniors' health can really suffer from a lack of proper hygiene. First, let's discuss why. are

Why is hygiene so important?

As we age, our immune system is not as robust as it once was and that means germs and viruses are more of an enemy than ever. Besides, our skin becomes more and more fragile and considering that our skin is the largest organ in our body and is responsible for so many things, like regulating our temperature, maintaining adequate hygiene becomes more of a necessity. Your personal hygiene not only benefits your own health, but it also impacts the lives of those around you, too. It entails keeping your hands, head, and body clean to stop the spread of germs and illness. For example,

• Skin infections such as Athlete’s Foot can be reduced by carefully washing and drying the affected areas daily.

• Bathing with soap and water helps to eliminate bacteria that causes odor and infections.

• Washing your clothes after normal wear rids them of dirt and other germs that can cause health issues and also prevents them from being spread to others.

• Brushing your teeth regularly helps to ward off gum diseases and other dental concerns that can be detrimental to your health.

• Washing your hands constantly keeps the impurities and germs from the day minimal and helps to prevent illnesses caused by them.

“A healthy attitude is contagious but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier.” – Tom Stoppard

Personal hygiene won’t just keep you healthy but it can even boost your mood which can be especially helpful for those living with a mental health disorder like depression or a memory loss disease like dementia.

Tips For Practicing Good Hygiene for the Elderly

1. Use moisturizing cleansing wipes to help clear the face of toxins and debris while also soothing and hydrating at the same time.

2. Use flushable cleansing wipes in the bathroom to make clean up time easier and quicker.

3. When bath/shower time is looking to be a little more difficult than usual, consider using body cleansing wipes to effectively get rid of bacteria and clean the skin.

4. Give dry shampoo a try to keep the scalp clean and reduce the amount of oil and dirt in their hair.

5. Try an automatic timer enabled toothbrush so adequate brushing time is made simple and more manageable.

6. Line up tasks in their correct order to help with remembering what needs to be done.

7. Keep hand sanitizer around when it's hard for them to get up and walk to the sink often.

*Keep in mind, the senior's comfort level is a significant aspect to be considered. Maintaining privacy while still ensuring proper health and safety can be a challenge. Talk with your loved one and ask if and when they need help and what you can do to make hygiene routines easier for them.

For more tips on elderly care and insights into how We Care provides superior and quality home care to those that need it, Check out our Facebook page.