How to Simplify Your Loved One’s Personal Care Routines

By Geralyn DiGiovanni, Manager, Client Services | June 22, 2016 |

Caregiver in White Plains NY

If your loved one is having a difficult time managing her own personal care routines, it might fall to you as her family caregiver to step in and help her simplify a bit. These tips can make a bigdifference for both of you.

Make Getting Dressed Easier

Your loved one might find getting dressed is more complicated as she gets older. If your loved one has other issues, such as memory issues related to dementia, then making the decision what to wear can be particularly taxing. Make this process easier by first switching your loved one’s wardrobe to clothes that she’s more able to put on. Also, trade out her wardrobe according to season. Then you’re less likely to see your loved one pairing a sweater with shorts.

Simplify the Bathing Process

Your loved one might not feel that it’s necessary for her to bathe every day, and that can be okay. Try working with her to establish a schedule for bathing and showering that you both agree with. Then, make sure that your loved one’s shampoo, conditioner, and soap are ready to go on the designated day. Be sure to have plenty of towels, washcloths, and other necessary items ready to go on each bath day.

Make Oral Care Easier

Your loved one may get out of the habit of caring for her teeth or her mouth regularly, again particularly if she’s dealing with dementia or other related illnesses. One thing that you can do is to make dental care a regular part of every day. Once it is part of her routine, your loved one will come to expect to brush her teeth or to clean her dentures at set times of day.

Set Up a Bedtime Routine

Your loved one is likely to do better during the day if she has a solid bedtime routine. This might incorporate her evening dental care routine, followed by some reading or television before climbing into bed. Your loved one might need less sleep than you expect, so you may need to work with her doctor to determine the right amount of sleep for her. Help your loved one try to go to bed and to get up at the same times every day.

As you make little changes here and there, you can tweak further to find a system that works for your elderly loved one and for you.

If you or an aging loved one are looking for caregiver services in White Plains, NY, call the friendly staff at The Perfect Home Care at (855) 855-5728. Call today!

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Geralyn DiGiovanni, Manager, Client Services

Manager, Client Services at The Perfect Home Care

Geralyn DiGiovanni has been marketing director of The Perfect Home Care since July, 2013. She’s responsible for promoting the agency by identifying and reaching out to market segments that align with the services offered by The Perfect Home Care. Among others, she works closely with geriatric care managers, elder care attorneys, and assisted living facilities. Her industry-specific experience includes multiple stints as a companion aide for seniors. She also has extensive experience in the publishing industry, where she worked as an account manager. “I love this industry and am passionate about working with seniors,” she says.

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