Daily body care not only increases the general well-being of the person in need of care but also prevents secondarydiseases such as skin irritation and inflammation.
Daily showering; a bath once a week If the condition of the person in need of care allows it, he should shower or be showered daily. A cleansing bath or a less stressful hip bath suffices once a week. A daily sponge bath is necessary for bedridden patients. Start with the eyes and then wash the face, ears, throat, arms, hands, chest and stomach. Afterward dry the patient immediately and apply cream if necessary. Wash the back in the lateral position, then the legs and feet. Finally the pubic region and the genitals are washed using a second washbowl and a second washcloth.
Intimate cleaning several times a day Intimate cleaning can be necessary several times a day because the pubic region is affected especially by the build up of odor due to the excretion of urine and feces and is susceptible to inflammations – particularly when the patient is incontinent or has increased discharge or diarrhea. The use of cleansing foam gentle to the skin is recommended for heavily soiled parts of the skin.
In women germs are easily imported from the anus region into the urinary tract due to the position of the urethra and can trigger infections there. Therefore always cleanse this region from the vagina to the anus.
In men the foreskin of the penis must be pushed back so that the glans can be cleansed and the smegma removed. After washing always push the foreskin back over the glans to avoid constriction and vascular congestion.
Do not forget skin folds. Special note: All skin folds must be thoroughly cleansed and thoroughly dried to ensure that skin irritation is not caused by moisture. Vulnerable areas are in particular:
the folds under a woman’s bosom
the armpits
the stomach folds of corpulent patients
the crotch and groin
the fold in the anal area
the scrotum area
the interdigital spaces of the toes
Special care from head to toe
Eyes Special care is necessary here if there is a risk of corneal dehydration or an infection of the conjunctiva. In particular patients with infrequent or absent blinking, e.g. in hemiplegia, are at risk. Wipe eyes clean with a gauze swab and sterile water several times a day. Use each swab only once.
Nose Clean the nasal openings only with cotton buds. Carefully remove any crusts so that they are not pushed upward and impede respiration.
Ears The external auditory canal as well as the skin behind the ears must be cleaned here.
Mouth Brush the teeth and rinse the mouth with refreshing mouthwash at least twice a day. Dentures should be cleaned thoroughly after every meal or at least in the evening. Especially severely ill patients and febrile patients as well as very old persons are susceptible to diseases of the oral mucous membrane due to their weakened defensive power and deficient chewing activity. Intensive oral hygiene is essential in these cases. Sterile ready-to-use lemon glycerine cotton buds are very practical for this purpose.
Nails Cutting toenails requires special caution because even tiny injuries can lead to severe, even potentially fatal infections in patients with circulatory disorders of the legs and in diabetic patients.
Feet A footbath is always found to be a relief and should be offered to bedridden as well as walking patients as often as possible.
