Explain why personal hygiene is important
Personal hygiene is essential for good health and well being
Having a clean and respectable appearance and pleasant environment is key to maintaining the self-esteem of older people.
The better they feel, the more they can enjoy life, making life more pleasurable for both them and for the staff.
For most adults, hygiene is a personal and private concern. When you are helping someone with personal hygiene it's important to be sensitive and tactful, and to respect their dignity.
ASSESSMENT TWO
Describe the effects of poor personal hygiene on health and well-being Poor hygiene can cause skin complaints, unpleasant smells and bacterial or parasitic infections. This can lead to long term health problems.
The working environment can also deteriorate when hygiene standards are low.
Poor personal hygiene can also lead to low self esteem, low confidence and leave people feeling isolated and depressed.
ASSESSMENT THREE
Explain how to support an individual to understand factors that contribute to good personal hygiene
Using a friendly approach, talk positively and sensitively to the person about the importance of good personal hygiene and reassure them that you are there to help them if they need that help bearing in mind their right to independence and their ability to act independently and explain that their privacy is just as important to you as it is to them.
ASSESSMENT FOUR Explain how to address personal hygiene issues with the individual in a sensitive manner without imposing own values It is important to be sensitive and not impose your own values upon the individual; there may be cultural issues or issues around privacy that have to be considered.
Explain to the individual that you will always respect their right to privacy and that you are there to help them.
ASSESSMENT FIVE
Explain how to support the individual to develop awareness of the effects of poor hygiene on others