LD 206 – Principles of supporting an individual to maintain personal hygiene Most people will maintain personal hygiene except in illness, substance abuse, or dementia. Dementia can cause a change in personal hygiene habits. People may forget to wash or change their clothes, or they may forget how to keep clean. Carers may find these stressful but different strategies can help. A person with dementia may need help with going to the toilet, getting dressed, brushing their teeth and grooming hair and nails.
Support Individuals to maintain personal hygiene. 1. Understand the importance of personal hygiene. 1.1 Personal hygiene is very important, not just for ourselves but others, maintaining a good personal hygiene is key to combating bacteria and disease. Especially when working in a care environment, as bacteria spreads quickly and very easily, and the elderly are much more vulnerable to illness.
hands carry many bacteria and organisms, by not washing your hand correctly or at all it can cause these organisms to be spread. By using correct technique to wash your hands you are reducing cross contamination. Personal hygiene includes hand washing but also the person as a whole, so washing daily. While at work not wearing jewellery and keeping nails short. By tying hair back especially when dealing with food.
Teeth- Another effect of poor hygiene is bad breath which is lack of brushing this allows bacteria to grow or having food in between teeth can start to rot over time so leading to bad breath. Going to denisit regular basis helps to maintain good teeth care. Hands - Washing hands is important regularly throughout the day to ensure bacteria is kept to a minimum as hands carry lots of germs and bacteria which can lead to a number of illness . You should always use hot water and soap. Outcome 2 Be able to support individuals to maintain personal hygiene 3 Support the individual to develop awareness of the effects of poor hygiene Explain to them in importance of good hygiene and how poor hygiene can have a important affect on thier well being.
By promoting personal hygiene in your own practice and appearance, and assisting individuals that you care for, you are leading by example. 1.2 Describe the effects of poor personal hygiene on health and well being. Poor personal hygeine can initially lead to the individual developing body odour from either not washing or not changing their clothing, this can lead to the person becoming isolated as family, freinds or the wider community as they are reluctant to spend time with the person. Not keeping their body and skin clean can lead to health problems such as bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections such as athletes foot. Poor dental hygeine will first be indicated by a build up of plaque on the teeth and bad breath but can lead to tooth decay, gum disease and loss of teeth, which can make a person who already has low self esteem loose more confidence.
Personal hygiene means the cleaning and grooming of the external body to make sure the skin, nails and hair are in a good condition. This is done to keep the body and hair clean and free from infections. Through eating, drinking, coughing, sneezing, sweating and elimination of urine and excrement the body needs cleaning to prevent infection, discomfort and odors. 1.2. Describe the effects of poor personal hygiene on health and well-being Poor personal hygiene can lead to unpleasant body odors, leaving the individual feeling depressed, with low self esteem and low confidence.
Blocking doors can interfere with people escaping a fire zone to safety. Putting things in the way of certain doors closing can interfere with fire containment and in doing such can put more people in harms way. These are all rules that people do not understand and therefore argue with if it is not explained to them or not enforced properly. There are also rules for people to have TB tests done frequently. This ensures that new employees in a healthcare facility do not bring in the disease to pass on to the patients that are more susceptible to it.
Has one ever wondered if these medications are sanitary and sterile. The health care field is widely spread and its main concept is cleanliness to reduce infections, diseases and disorders. We must start the process of cleanliness with the environment and of our surroundings to prevent the spread and cause of these illnesses. The counters, credit card machine and the handling of money are not the only contaminated items a person deals with when in these facilities. Pills are dropped on the floor, touched by pharmacists and technicians hands.
With their busy working lives, people may not notice that they are living with thirst. Thinking they will manage by drinking water and coffee throughout the day, they ignore the positive effects of having a well-hydrated body. A water deficiency can cause significant health problems. Don’t say I never think to drink water! Drinking enough water should be a habit for everyone.
Routes of infection- • Breaks in the skin • respiratory route • Up the urinary and reproductive systems • Down the digestive tract Our own personal health and hygiene may place others at risk in the workplace as poor health may spread infection to other clients/staff. Poor hygiene can also spread infections in the workplace it is vital everyone’s hygiene is excellent to prevent the spread of infection. The most effective wash to wash your hands Personal protective equipment All care workers should use PPE whenever they are dealing with substances which are hazardous to health. Examples of these substances are cleaning products, bodily fluids and medication. PPE includes disposable gloves, face masks, aprons etc.