Hygiene

Hygiene

Personal Hygiene refers to the measures that an individual takes to keep their hair, nails , skin, mouth, eyes , ears, and nose clean.

Maintenance of personal hygiene is necessary for an individual’s comfort, safety and well being.

Well people are capable of meeting their own hygienic needs, ill or physically challenged people may require assistance.

Hygiene care

While performing hygiene care ensure privacy, convey respect, foster comfort and preserve independence as much as is possible.

When providing hygiene use the time to communicate with the patient (general, counseling and teaching); • assess the skin, hair, nails, eyes, ears, teeth; assess

movement of joints and limbs; & patient's ability to perform ADLs (activities of daily living).

Hygiene

Knowledge Body image Social practices Socio-economic Culture Personal preference Psychological / physical condition Impact of lack of hygiene

Impact of poor hygiene

Infection

Odour

Lowered self esteem.

Patient subjected to ridicule by staff.

Patient may be alienated by other patients.

Goals of hygiene

Comfort & relaxationStimulation of circulationCleanliness (removal of dead skin & body oils)Improved self imageSkin conditioning (improved circulation, cleanliness etc.)

Types of hygiene

Shower Shower trolleyBed sponge No soap bed sponges (dermalux)BathHair careEye toilet Ears and nose careMouth careMouth toiletPeri toiletPenile toiletNail and foot care

Principles of hygiene procedures

Considerations

Safety

Warmth

Privacy

Promoting dignity

Encouraging independence

Other?

General guidelinesPromote safety and prevent falls

Assess psychological and physical needs

Seek consent

Meet toileting needs before procedure

Determine self-care abilities and promote independence

Determine purpose of bathing

Collect all necessary items before starting

Cleanse the skin to remove dirt, excessive oil, perspiration, transient bacteria and dead epithelial cells

General guidelines cont:

Determine the effects of frequency of bathing on condition of skin

Do not apply soap to excoriated or non-intact areas of skin

Bathe from clean to dirty

Use gentle friction to stimulate circulation and remove debris (unless contraindicated)

Provide warmth and privacy

Use good body mechanics when assisting

Not all people need daily baths

During hygiene care

Assessment of skin, nails, hair, ears, eyesAssessment of movementPromotion of therapeutic relationshipEducationPromotion of independence

Skin assessmentColour – • pink, cyanosed, pale, is it

uniformLesions – • present, location, size, colour

Moisture – • substance, location, amount,

odourOedema – • locationTexture – • soft, smooth, rough, unevenTemperature – • warm, hot, cool, coldTurgor – • degree of turgor

Respiratory assessment– Breathing during movement and at rest

Cardiovascular assessment– Body temperature, colour of skin, circulation to

extremitiesMusculo-skeletal assessment

– Joint mobility, muscle strength, coordination, self-help abilities

Gastrointestinal assessment– Abdominal distension, faecal incontinence, rectal

bleedingGenitourinary assessment

– Bladder distension, urinary incontinence, difficulty voiding

Hair Care /Anatomy of Hair

Grows upward from the root.

Lengthening fibers of keratin-filled dead cells , grouped around the semi-hollow medulla, makes up the cortex.

The bulb ( a living structure) surrounds and feeds the root, it lies in a pocket of the epidermis called the follicle.