Chapter 6

1. Personal Care Skills

2.  Tasks that are concerned with a person’s
body, appearance, and hygiene.
 AM care:
 Bathroom
 Wash face and hands.
 Hair care, dressing, shaving, mouth care/dentures
before breakfast

3.  PM Care:
 Bathroom
 Wash face and hands
 Snack
 Mouth care/Dentures
 Nightclothes
 Backrub (if requested)

4.  The care you give may be different for
different residents.
 Some may be more independent
 Some may be entirely dependent on you
 Adjust your demeanor with each person based on
what they need and who they are.

5.  Explain what you are doing
 Have them do what they can
 Provide privacy – this is a right
 Look for any new changes
 Skin
 Mood
 Ability to help themselves
 Any other complaints
 Report changes to the nurse

6.  Pressure points-boney prominences
 Pressure sores (ulcers)
 Watch for reddened or white areas, this could be
the beginning…
 Stages of breakdown – see page 122
 Observe and report – pg 123

7.  Inspect
 Keep clean and dry
 Reposition at least every 2 hours.
 Give good peri care
 Change linens when needed.
 Be gentle when moving and dressing
 Use draw sheet/lift sheet when moving in bed

8.  Foam boots
 Bed cradles/foot boards
 Orthotic devices – supportive devices
 Trochanter rolls – hip precautions
 Pillows
 Hand rolls
 Splints
 If these are in the care plan, put them on.

9.  Wash from head down
 Make sure to read pgs 125 – 129 thoroughly!
 For shampooing, use special device if giving
bed bath.
 Modified bed bath…one of our skills
 In classroom, clean face, one arm, and armpit
 In clinical, clean face, hands, armpits, genital area
In clinical, promote independence: washcloth

10.  Fingernails
 May trim carefully, if resident not diabetic
 Clean nails per guidelines in book. Not one of our
skills, but you need to know how to do this.
 Foot Care
 One of our skills, make sure to wash, rinse, dry
between toes

11.  Hair combing/brushing
 Shaving – Shave up on neck, down on face
 Dressing – if weak side
 Old garment/gown off strong side first, weak side
last
 New garment/gown on weak side first, finishing
on strong side last
 May be called “weak”, “involved”, “affected,”
never good or bad side.

12.  Put stockings on in bed, if possible.
 Oral Care:
 Includes dentures and mouth, see supplies
needed on page 142 – Read completely

13.  Includes:
 Taking resident to bathroom
 Using bedpan if in bed
 Using Bedside Commode – transferring with gait
belt.
 If using BSC, will take “pail” or “bucket” to dirty
utility room and clean, per facility protocol
 Giving urinal to a male

14.  Turn on a schedule
 Supine
 Lateral – right and left sides
 Fowler’s – 45 degree ankle
 Prone – not often used for elderly resident.
 Logrolling – turn resident as one unit – needs 2
people to help – back, neck, hip surgury
 Use draw sheet, pillows between legs

15.  Prevention is the best thing
 Keep call light close
 Answer call lights promptly
 If resident faints or falls when you are transferring,
Bend knees and brace against resident and lower to
the floor. Do not try to “catch” the resident.
You could end up with an injury yourself
If ambulating or transferring, ALWAYS use your gait
belt, even if others do not!

16.  Hoyer lift
 Sit to stand
 They prevent wear and tear on the body.
 We will learn how to use these in class!