Many caregivers help their senior loved ones with daily dressing and grooming tasks, so it’s useful to know how to successfully complete these activities. Dressing seniors with limited mobility, dementia, or other health conditions can be quite difficult. Use these seven tips to make dressing and grooming tasks easier.
1. Be Sensitive
Dressing and grooming your loved one is a personal task, so it’s important to take his or her wishes into account. If possible, have an open conversation about how to keep your loved one comfortable. Simple actions like draping a towel or blanket over your loved one in between grooming steps may prevent him or her from feeling awkward.
A professional caregiver can help your loved one with a variety of tasks at home, including grooming and dressing. When considering at-home care, families should make sure their senior loved ones have the resources they need to maintain their independence and remain healthy. Trusted in-home care professionals can assist seniors with daily tasks like cooking, bathing, and exercise, and they can also encourage them to focus on healthier lifestyle habits.
2. Pick Comfortable Clothes
Your job may be a lot easier if you pick the correct clothes. Select clothes that won’t pinch your love ed one or cause sore spots on the skin. Your loved one may find it easier to put on clothes with elastic or Velcro closures instead of buttons, ties, or buckles. Good clothing options include t-shirts, pants with elastic waists, sweaters, and skirts made from natural materials.
3. Encourage Sitting while Getting Dressed
Trying to maintain balance while getting dressed can be difficult for seniors. Have your loved one sit on the bed or a chair while you guide each piece of clothing onto his or her body. Though this might seem like a little bit of extra work for you, it can speed up the entire process.
If you’re the primary family caregiver for a senior loved one living in Roseville, live-in care is available if your loved one’s health has become too difficult to manage without professional expertise. At BeyondWell Home Care, we take measures to help seniors prevent illness and injury by assisting with exercise and mobility, preparing nutritious meals, helping with bathing and other personal hygiene tasks, and much more.
4. Stay Organized
Some seniors become overwhelmed while dressing and grooming. The entire task may be easier if you grab all the clothing and grooming items you need before you begin. Set the items nearby so you can pick them up easily without leaving your loved one alone.
5. Get an Electric Shaver
If your loved one needs help shaving body hair, consider using an electric razor. Shaving with an electric razor reduces the likelihood of accidentally cutting your loved one, and it can make the task quicker and easier to manage.
6. Select Low-Maintenance Hairstyles
Though it’s important for seniors to feel happy and confident, labor-intensive hairstyles are a bad idea. Styles that require frequent dyeing, curling, straightening, and trimming aren’t ideal. Good hairstyle choices for seniors include short or mid-length styles that highlight the natural hair texture. If your loved one wants long hair, it may be a good idea to keep it in a braid to prevent tangling.
7. Don’t Neglect Skin Care
Seniors typically have dry, thin skin that’s prone to sores, cracks, and cuts. Therefore, it’s important to pay attention to your loved one’s skin when assisting him or her with grooming. Gently apply a water-soluble moisturizer each day in dry areas.
If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to BeyondWell Home Care, a trusted provider of Roseville senior home care. Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping. We will work with you to create a customized home care plan that’s suited for your loved one’s unique needs.