Principles of Supporting an Individual to Maintain Personal Hygiene
Unit 4222-249 Principles of supporting an individual to maintain personal hygiene
Outcome 1: Understand the importance of good personal hygiene
1:1 Explain why personal hygiene is important
Personal hygiene means the cleaning and grooming of the external body to make sure the skin, nails and hair are in a good condition. This is done to keep the body and hair clean and free from infections. Through eating, drinking, coughing, sneezing, sweating and elimination of urine and excrement the body needs cleaning to prevent infection, discomfort and odours.
From maintaining a high standard of personal hygiene an individual feels clean, presentable and comfortable. Through looking presentable and feeling clean an individual’s self esteem and self respect rises. There is less chance of infections developing and therefore the external body is healthier.
1:2 Describe the effects of poor personal hygiene on health and well being
Bodily Odours – Poor personal hygiene can lead to unpleasant body odours, leaving the individual feeling depressed, with low self esteem and low confidence. It can also lead to the individual being isolated by friends.
Oral – Poor personal hygiene in the mouth can lead to tooth decay and gum problems. If the teeth are not cleaned properly or regularly or the individual is frail, ill or dehydrated they could become sore or get fungal infections and gum disease.
Hands and feet – If the hands and feet are not cleaned regularly it can lead to infections. Hands harbour lots of germs especially under the nails and if they are not cleaned regularly these germs can be transmitted and spread infection. Micro organisms can grow in the warm, moist in-between toes and cause infections such as athlete’s foot.
Armpits – Armpits need to be cleaned regularly and thoroughly as the body produces sweat. Poor hygiene under the arms can lead to bad odours and fungal infections.
Groin, pubic and perianal – The Groin, pubic and perianal areas are the areas that
Outcome 1: Understand the importance of good personal hygiene
1:1 Explain why personal hygiene is important
Personal hygiene means the cleaning and grooming of the external body to make sure the skin, nails and hair are in a good condition. This is done to keep the body and hair clean and free from infections. Through eating, drinking, coughing, sneezing, sweating and elimination of urine and excrement the body needs cleaning to prevent infection, discomfort and odours.
From maintaining a high standard of personal hygiene an individual feels clean, presentable and comfortable. Through looking presentable and feeling clean an individual’s self esteem and self respect rises. There is less chance of infections developing and therefore the external body is healthier.
1:2 Describe the effects of poor personal hygiene on health and well being
Bodily Odours – Poor personal hygiene can lead to unpleasant body odours, leaving the individual feeling depressed, with low self esteem and low confidence. It can also lead to the individual being isolated by friends.
Oral – Poor personal hygiene in the mouth can lead to tooth decay and gum problems. If the teeth are not cleaned properly or regularly or the individual is frail, ill or dehydrated they could become sore or get fungal infections and gum disease.
Hands and feet – If the hands and feet are not cleaned regularly it can lead to infections. Hands harbour lots of germs especially under the nails and if they are not cleaned regularly these germs can be transmitted and spread infection. Micro organisms can grow in the warm, moist in-between toes and cause infections such as athlete’s foot.
Armpits – Armpits need to be cleaned regularly and thoroughly as the body produces sweat. Poor hygiene under the arms can lead to bad odours and fungal infections.
Groin, pubic and perianal – The Groin, pubic and perianal areas are the areas that