Hygiene

• Shave


  To cut the hair off someone's face
• Beard


  Hair that grows on a man's face
• Hygiene


  The practice of maintaining good health through cleanliness
• The health of an individual influences not only the family but also society at large
• Personal hygiene includes


  • Care of the skin
  • Nails
  • Teeth and mouth
  • Nose
  • Hair
  • Personal area (genitals)
  • Ears
• Personal hygiene (cleanliness)


  Influences personal health
• Customs in connection with personal hygiene


  • Influenced by factors such as culture, socio-economic factors and personal preferences
  • Personal hygiene is closely linked to comfort and is an important aspect of patient care
• Hygiene of the environment


  An important factor in the prevention of disease as well as the comfort of people
• Patients' care needs


  • Can take care of their own personal needs without any help
  • Need a little help
  • Need a lot of help
  • Totally dependent due to physical or mental incapability and can do nothing for themselves or on their own
• When a patient is able to do all of his/her personal care without any help


  The only duty of the Health Care Assistant is to provide privacy
• Self-care and independence


  Should be encouraged in patients
• Health Care Assistants


  Have to give their patients as much help as needed when a patient is not able to provide for their own personal care
• Health Care Assistants


  Must often provide total personal care to patients when they are too young, too ill, too confused or physically unable to do it themselves
• Principles of providing personal care


  1. Wash your hands before you provide personal care

  2. Use Universal Precautions

  3. Provide privacy: Pull the curtain. Close the door

  4. Knock before you enter a room if the person is doing their own personal care

  5. Introduce yourself to the person and tell them what you are going to do before you start

  6. Determine the identity of the patient

  7. Maintain the safety of the patient at all times
• Let the person choose when they want personal care

  Not all patients need a bath before lunch. Some may prefer it in the evening
• Observe the patient during personal care

  1. Look at the person

  2. Check their skin condition

  3. Report any skin tears or signs of skin breakdown

  4. Listen to the person

  5. Feel the person's skin

  6. Smell: Does the person have any odours
• Document all personal care


  A flow sheet is often used to document personal care and activities of daily living
• Make personal care an enjoyable aspect of the person's life

  Treat all your patients with respect and kindness
• Keeping the skin and mucus membranes healthy and intact (unbroken)


  • The most important way to protect the body against injury and disease
  • The healthier the skin, the better it protects the underlying tissues
• Factors that can influence the intactness (health condition) of the skin


  • Change in nutrition
  • Immobility (non-moving)
  • Not enough intake of fluids
  • Presence of secretions on skin
  • Mechanical equipment
  • Change in blood circulation
• Unpleasant body odours


  Bacteria on the skin react with sweat being excreted, causing unpleasant body odours
• Basic care of a patient with unpleasant body odours


  1. Bacteria, dead cells, dust and other dirt, sweat and sebum must be washed off the skin regularly by having a daily bath or shower

  2. Removing sweat and bacteria by washing with soap and water prevents unpleasant body odours

  3. Top and tail (wash axilla and private parts) after hard work or exercise

  4. Females need to change tampons and sanitary pads often during menstruation

  5. Deodorant or roll-on may be used after washing

  6. Advise patient to shave armpits / axilla

  7. Brush teeth at least once daily with toothpaste

  8. Change underwear daily
• Dryness of the skin


  Ageing or dehydration causes dryness of the skin. Cracks can easily develop and provide access to bacteria
• Basic care of a patient with dryness of the skin


  1. Use a mild nourishing soap when washing the patient

  2. Aqueous cream may also be used as soap and as a body lotion after the bath

  3. Bath oils can be put in the bathing water to soften and nourish the skin

  4. Three tablespoons of coarse salt may be put in the bath water to keep the skin moist

  5. Nourishing cream can be massaged into the skin after a bath or bed bath

  6. Give the patient a balanced diet and help the patient to drink enough fluids

  7. Do not use products that contain alcohol on the skin because it dries the skin

  8. Avoid excessive exposure to the sun
• Injury to the skin


  Pressure, friction (rubbing), abrasions or sharp objects on the skin can cause injury to the skin. As soon as the skin is injured, germs can penetrate the body or body fluid can be lost
• Prevention of injury to the skin of the patient

  1. Work carefully with sharp objects

  2. The nails of the Health Care Assistant must be short

  3. The Health Care Assistant may not wear any protruding jewellery

  4. When changing the patient's position, the Health Care Assistant must use a draw sheet to move the patient and not pull him/her

  5. Work gently so as not to tear thin skin

  6. Change the patient's position 2 hourly, or as needed

  7. If the patient is itching, prevent injury by scratching

  8. Remove urine or stools from the skin as soon as possible and apply a barrier cream

  9. Change adult nappies regularly

  10. Prevent burning by checking the temperature of bathwater in advance
• Pressure sores


  Refer to the section on mobility and skin integrity
• Hands


  • Must be kept free of cracks and cuts because germs causing disease can enter the skin
  • Must be washed often
• Offer a face cloth and hand towel to the patient


  To freshen them up and keep hands clean
• Offer hand cream to the patient


  To keep hands soft and smooth
• When to wash hands


  1. Before and after caring for the patient

  2. Before working with food

  3. Between handling raw food and cooked food

  4. Before and after meals

  5. After using the toilet, changing nappies or toileting others

  6. After smoking, coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, using a tissue or handkerchief, eating or drinking

  7. After touching hair, scalp, mouth, nose, ear canal or any other body part

  8. After performing cleaning duties

  9. After handling rubbish or other waste
• Liquid soap is preferable


  Antibacterial soap is unnecessary
• Clean nails


  • An important aspect of personal hygiene
  • Nails must be kept short and clean because germs can get under the nails and cause cross-infection
  • Short nails prevent injuries
• Principles of nail care


  1. Nails must be cut without injuring the patient

  2. Nails should be filed with an Emery board

  3. Nail problems can be prevented by proper nail care

  4. The nails of the elderly can become thick, therefore be extra careful when cutting the nails not to injure the person
• Foot care


  • Important to keep feet clean and free from sweat
  • Special care of the feet is necessary to prevent any pressure sores in bedridden patients
  • Special consideration must be given to the type of shoe in mobile patients
• Principles of foot care


  1. Special foot care needs to be done at least every 6 weeks

  2. Toenails must be filed straight to prevent in-growing toenails

  3. Wash feet daily, use lukewarm water and soft soap

  4. A soft nailbrush can be used to clean the nails and the soles of the feet

  5. The feet must be dried well, especially between toes

  6. Keep skin soft with appropriate body lotion or foot cream. Do not apply between the toes

  7. Avoid walking bare feet

  8. Exercise feet several times per day to promote blood circulation

  9. Wear clean socks or stockings every day

  10. Never cut corns or calluses or use corn plasters or other home remedies

  11. Never use sharp instruments to dig around toenails

  12. Never massage feet in case of blood clots

  13. Inspect the feet once a week or while doing special foot care
• Bathing


  • When a patient is ill or frail, he/she is often unable to attend to his/her own personal hygiene
  • Many people do not like someone else to attend to the more personal matters, which they usually manage for themselves in the privacy of their homes
  • A good Health Care Assistant carries out these tasks in a sympathetic way and without fuss
• Skin


  Should be kept clean by frequent washing. The washing process stimulates blood circulation through the skin and promotes the health of the cells of the skin
• If a patient is feverish


  He will sweat more and should be washed more often
• Bathing


  Stimulates the blood supply and therefore helps to improve health