Duración
1 Hour
Personal Care - Skin, Nail, Mouth and Hair Care
Skin Care
With aging, the outer layer of the skin gets thinner, paler, and less stretchy (elastic). Because blood vessels get more fragile with age, older adults tend to bruise more easily. Also, older adults may produce less sweat and oil from the glands in their skin.
If you are providing care for an older adult, there are several ways you can help keep their skin healthy.
In general:
Cleansing & Moisturizing: Use gentle, fragrance-free cleansers and moisturizers. Apply moisturizer to damp skin immediately after bathing to seal in moisture.
Bathing best practices: Caregivers who help the person with bathing should use a mild soap and a skin moisturizer to help prevent irritation and dry skin. Be sure to dry between folds of skin and check for rashes.
Incontinence best practices: For older adults who have trouble with incontinence, use a protective ointment, such as petroleum jelly, around the rectum, vagina, or penis. Prevent chafing by using lotion or ointment and encouraging the person to wear clothing that fits well.
Avoiding Bed Sores: Sitting or lying in one position for a long time can lead to pressure sores (sometimes called bedsores), which are painful, open sores on the skin. To help prevent pressure sores, move the person’s body often and consider placing a supportive pad under them. If you notice redness or sores, ask the person’s doctor what to do. Reaching out to the doctor early can help prevent more serious damage to the skin.
Regular Checks: Regularly examine the skin for any new growths, changes in moles, or sores that won't heal, and consult a doctor if needed.
Dry skin and itching
Many older people develop dry spots on their skin, often on their lower legs, elbows, and lower arms. Dry skin patches may itch and feel rough and scaly. There are many possible reasons for dry skin. In addition to the changes that come with aging, drinking too little water, spending too much time in the sun, living in a dry environment, and smoking can all cause the skin to feel dry and rough.
Taking hot baths and showers, or using too much soap, antiperspirant, or perfume, can make dry skin worse. Talk to your doctor if your skin is very dry and itchy.
Use moisturizers such as lotions, creams, or ointments every day.
Use mild soap and warm (not hot) water when bathing or showering. Don’t add bath oil to your water — it can make the tub slippery and increase the risk of falling.
Try using a humidifier, an appliance that adds moisture to a room.
Bruises
Older people may bruise more easily than younger people, and it can take longer for these bruises to heal. Some medicines or illnesses may also cause bruising. Talk to your doctor if you see bruises and don’t know how you got them, especially on parts of your body usually covered by clothing.
Age spots and skin tags
Age spots, once called “liver spots,” are flat, brown spots on the skin often caused by years of exposure to the sun. Age spots are bigger than freckles and commonly show up on the face, hands, arms, back, and feet. Wearing a hat in the sun and using a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against two types of the sun’s rays — UVA and UVB — can help prevent more age spots from forming.
Skin tags are small, usually flesh-colored growths of skin that have a raised surface. They become more common as people age, especially in women. They are most often found on the eyelids, neck, and body folds such as the armpits, chest, and groin.
Age spots and skin tags are harmless, although skin tags can become irritated from friction. If your age spots or skin tags bother you, talk to a doctor about treatment options.
What skin changes should I look out for?
Skin cancer:
Check the client's skin each month for changes that may be signs of cancer. Skin cancer is rarely painful.
Check moles, birthmarks, or other parts of the skin for ‘ABCDE’: Early melanoma can have specific symptoms. The “ABCDE” rule can help you know what to look for:
A = Asymmetry (one half of the growth looks different from the other half)
B = Borders that are irregular
C = Color changes or more than one color
D = Diameter greater than the size of a pencil eraser
E = Evolving, meaning the growth changes in size, shape, symptoms (for example, itching or tenderness), surface (especially bleeding), or shades of color
If you have any of these signs, see a doctor right away to find out what may be causing them.
Regular skin checks by a doctor are also important for people who have already had skin cancer.
Shingles. Shingles, which is caused by a virus called herpes zoster, is a disease that triggers a painful skin rash
Hair Care
Focus on simplicity and scalp health
Frequency: Wash hair 2-3 times a week with mild, sulfate-free shampoo (baby shampoo is a gentle option). However, sometimes we need to compromise and be alright with partial results (not fully washing / drying / styling or less than 2-3 times a week). In those cases, consider easier alternatives, such as no-rinse / dry shampoos or hair deodorizers
Styling: Use a soft-bristled brush or wide-tooth comb to detangle gently, starting from the ends
Stay Upbeat No Matter What: "Don't take it all too seriously. I once got the heated curling brush tangled in Alice's hair and was terrified I'd have to cut a chunk of hair from the back of her head. I kept my cool, joking that she would have to withhold a tip, since I was taking so long. I'm not sure she got the joke, but she laughed. With plenty of patience and the help of some spray detangler, I was able to free the curling brush from her hair. I might add that I bought a smooth-barreled curling iron for our next session!" (Source: AgingCare)
If the client refuses to bathe (source: AgingCare), here are some tips:
Encourage getting clean for an activity or event: “One idea we tried (and it worked) was to discuss going out to lunch/dinner. Dad would like the idea very much, but if he wanted to join us, he had to groom himself and bathe. So, about once a week we would treat him to a meal at a diner, IHOP or another local restaurant. It doesn’t have to be very expensive, and the change of scenery was nice for all of us.”
Wash up together (family caregivers): “If you’re caring for your spouse, try showering with them. Coax them in and help them bathe, if needed. Use bathing items and products they like, such as favorite brands or scents.”
Make sure that the water and room temperature are comfortable: If you are working with someone who has dementia, you may find that they go from loving their hair washing time to fighting you when you try. If you have an occasional day like that, let it go. No one I know has ever died from skipping a hair wash. If this refusal is chronic, it is likely due to fear or something about the process that is making them uncomfortable. Individuals with dementia can have difficulty articulating what is bothering them. Make a point of checking the room temperature and water temperature carefully so that it's not shockingly cold or hot. This sounds like a no-brainer, but your elder may be more sensitive to temperatures than you are. Test with your inner arm, your foot or a part of your body other than your hands, which have likely become used to hot water.
Nail Care
Maintaining clean and healthy nails can boost your level of comfort and contribute overall to your quality of life. Seniors are frequently susceptible to fungal infections that take root in the skin under the nails, known as the nail bed. These infections don’t only look unattractive, but they can cause pain as well. And with so many seniors suffering from depression or other emotional health issues, it simply feels great and boosts your mood to be well-groomed. Senior citizens’ nails demand additional care and attention from caregivers.
Use emery boards / nail files: Caregivers should only use emery boards or nail files to smooth rough edges which can cause damage to the thinner skin of seniors
Avoid filing too short: Be careful not to file nails too short or too close to the skin to avoid infection
File in the same direction: Always file in the same direction to prevent weakening or beveling nails
Leave cuticles alone: Make sure to leave the cuticles alone. Avoid pushing them back or cutting them away because cuticles shield the nail bed from damage. Breaks in cuticles form pathways for bacteria and other pathogens to better access skin, increasing risk of illness or infection.
Issue Prevention:
Get Adequate Nutrition: Nutrition is one of the essential building blocks for strong, healthy nails. Ensure there is adequate protein, iron and vitamin B to keep nails at their best
Moisturize: Give your hands and feet a little extra love with a nice moisturizer or hand cream before bed. And don't forget your nails and cuticles. You can help restore moisture lost through aging and frequent washing. Rub the lotion into your fingernails and cuticles. The John Hopkins Center recommends using a lotion on your feet, too, if you have dry skin. But skip the area between your toes, as lotion there can increase your risk of fungal infections.
Protect Your Nails: Treat your nails carefully. Don't bite or chew your fingernails or use them as a tool to pry open soda pop tops. Keep your toenails safe with shoes that fit properly and give your toes room to move. Wearing slip-on shoes at the pool can reduce the risk of fungal infections around your toenails.
Get Help for Problems: Your nails can provide helpful information about your overall health. If your nails change, swell, separate from the skin, are bleeding or are causing you pain, see your health care provider. This is particularly important if you have diabetes or poor circulation.
Mouth Care
Oral / mouth care is more than just about maintaining the "pearly whites". Tooth decay, gum disease and dementia may all be consequences of poor oral health:
Growing evidence for connections between oral health and dementia risk: Studies are showing evidence for connections between poor oral health and dementia risk. For example, in 2020, NIA scientists tracked long-term data from more than 6,000 older adults and found that those with signs of gum disease and mouth infections were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia than those without. A 2021 study found that older adults with tooth loss have a higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, and that this risk increases with each missing tooth. However, participants who had missing teeth but used dentures did not have a significantly higher risk of dementia compared to participants without missing natural teeth. Researchers are still working to determine how oral health problems may be related to cognitive health later in life.
Gum disease: Gum disease begins when plaque builds up along and under your gum line. Plaque can cause an infection that damages the gums and bone that hold your teeth in place. A mild form of gum disease, called gingivitis, may make your gums red, tender, and more likely to bleed. Gingivitis can often be fixed and prevented by brushing and flossing every day. A more severe form of gum disease, called periodontitis, must be treated by a dentist. If left untreated, this infection can lead to sore and bleeding gums, bad breath, painful chewing problems, and even tooth loss. To prevent gum disease:
Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
Floss or clean between your teeth once daily.
Visit your dentist routinely for a checkup and cleaning. Tell the dentist about any medical conditions you have and medications you take.
Eat a well-balanced diet.
Quit smoking. Smoking increases your risk for gum disease.
Tooth Decay: Teeth are covered in a hard outer coating called enamel. Each day, a thin film of bacteria called dental plaque builds up on your teeth. The bacteria in plaque produce acids that can harm enamel and cause cavities. Brushing and flossing your teeth can prevent decay, but once a cavity forms, a dentist must fix it with a filling to avoid further damage.
Use fluoride toothpaste to protect your teeth from decay, especially if you are at a higher risk for tooth decay — for example, if you have dry mouth because of a health condition or certain medicines.
Your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend a fluoride treatment during an office visit or advise that you use a fluoride gel or mouth rinse at home.
Other ways for caregivers to help:
General routine: Brush teeth, gums, and tongue at least daily with a soft-bristled brush.
Caring for dentures: Keep your dentures clean and free from food that can cause stains or bad breath. Brush dentures every day with a denture-care product, and soak them in water or a denture-cleansing liquid at night. Be sure to leave them out of your mouth while you sleep to prevent swollen gums.
Helping with dry mouth: Dry mouth occurs when you don’t have enough saliva, or spit, to keep your mouth wet. It can make it hard to eat, swallow, taste, and even speak. Dry mouth can increase your risk of tooth decay, fungal infections of the mouth, and cavities. Many common medicines can cause this problem, e.g., medicines for high blood pressure, depression, and bladder-control issues. Encourage sipping water or sugarless drinks. Don’t smoke, and avoid alcohol, caffeine, soft drinks, and acidic fruit juices. Avoid spicy or salty foods. Sugarless hard candy or sugarless gum that is a little tart may help. Talk to your dentist or doctor if your mouth feels too dry. They might suggest using artificial saliva to keep your mouth wet.
Be on the lookout for oral cancer: Oral cancer can start in any part of the mouth or throat, including the tongue. Oral cancer is more likely to happen in people over age 40, and men are more likely than women to develop it. A dental checkup is a good time for your dentist to look for signs of oral cancer. Even if you have lost all your natural teeth, you should still see your dentist for regular oral cancer exams. This exam is quick and painless.