Book: Personal Care

1. Introduction

In this Topic we will look at Assisting with Personal Care.

The Learning Outcomes for this Topic are to: 

• understand how encouragement and support can enable a person retain independence in self-care for as long as possible
• develop confidence in responding to an individual's personal care needs while maintaining independence
• appreciate the sensitiveness involved in delivering personal care
• explore communication methods to successfully meet an individual's care needs and to effectively communicate this information to others involved in the caring process
• understand and respond positively to a refusal of help

The Resources and Activities in this Topic should take you approximately 80 minutes.

Participating in Forums and Optional Activities will require additional time.

2. What is Personal Care?

Assisting with personal care can be one of the most challenging aspects of caring for a loved one with dementia.

But what do we mean by personal care?

Definition: Personal Care consists of

• Washing
• Dressing / Undressing
• Toiletting
• Dental Care
• Nail and Hair Care

3. Assisting with Personal Hygiene

The podcast below was produced by The Alzheimer's Society UK and provides a wealth of information and advice around these sensitive issues. This first podcast deals with Washing.

Go ahead and listen to this practical and detailed guide for family carers of loved ones with dementia.

Podcast 1 - Washing

Podcast available at: https://youtu.be/DLE315b3s9M

4. Providing Positive Care

Take a look at this short video presentation looking at positive care ideas.

This video is available to view at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iZ4Qiku1Xs

5. Bathing and Dressing

This short video looks at how to work around a refusal to bath, and some recommended responses.

6. Pause and Reflect

We have given you quite a lot to think about so far in this Topic.

In preparation for completing your Care Delivery Action Plan, think about how you might apply the tips and advice in the videos and presentations to your own situation.

• How do you feel about providing personal care?
• Do you promote your loved one's independence as much as possible?
• Do you feel relaxed when providing personal care?
• What non-verbal communication cues do you transmit?

Feel free to share your experiences in My Personal Care

7. Later Stage Personal Care

Managing Continence

In this second podcast we look at issues of incontinence. This is much more likely to occur in later stage dementia.

Podcast 2 - Incontinence

Podcast available at: https://youtu.be/lvQtjY3-bcE

8. Refusing Help

Why might your loved one refuse help with personal care?

As we found out when we looked at Communication and Responsive Behaviour back in week 2, there are many reasons why your loved one may refuse help.

"I don't want to..."

Problem: Apathy - decreased motivation, rigid in clothing choice. Affected area of the brain: frontal lobe.

"I don't need to..."

Problem: Lack of understanding - resistance to help, personality changes. Affected area of the brain: frontal lobe.

"I already did..."

Problem: Memory loss - reasoning does not work. Affected area of the brain: Hippocampus, temporal lobe.

Have you come across resistance in your loved one?

How does this relate to communication issues we discussed in week 2?

Feel free to share any thoughts you might have on this in My Personal Care

9. Summary

In this section we have outlined what we mean by personal care. And we have examined how we can provide positive care when washing, dressing and toileting our loved one. We have tried to show how the provision of personal care will require good communication techniques.

Don't forget to use your Week 4: Care Delivery Action Plan to record how you can use the material in this topic in your care of your loved one.

How was the course for you this week? Tell us how you got on at the Feedback: Week 6 activity. Thank you.