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Caregiving: Overview of Personal Care

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Caregiving: Overview of Personal Care

Topic Contents

Overview
Related Information
Credits

Overview

Helping someone with personal care involves a lot of daily tasks. If it's been a while since you did day-to-day caregiving—or you've never done it—you might not know all the things you need to do and how to do them. This information gives an overview of the daily or weekly care a person needs.

Bathing

Helping with a shower
Helping with a sink bath
Giving a bed bath

Bladder and bowel care

Using adult underwear for incontinence
Using a bedpan or urinal
Using a bedside commode (toilet)
Caring for an indwelling urinary catheter

Cleaning up and reducing germs

Reducing germs and infection in the home
Using disposable gloves
Washing soiled clothes and linens
Cleaning up diarrhea

Helping at meal time

Helping someone with eating

Home safety

Making a home safe

Moving someone in bed

Turning someone in bed

Personal care and grooming

Dental care for older adults
Hair washing and care
Shaving
Caring for fingernails
Caring for feet and toenails

Skin care

Caring for the skin of an immobile adult
Preventing rashes in the groin area

Related Information

Caregiver Tips
Chronic Illness: Help for Caregivers
Coping When Your Child Is Near the End of Life
Coronary Artery Disease: Helping a Loved One
Dementia: Support for Caregivers
Diabetes: Caregiving for an Older Adult
Heart Failure: Tips for Caregivers
HIV: Tips for Caregivers to Avoid Infection
Quick Tips: Reducing the Stress of Caregiving
Schizophrenia and the Caregiver
Self-Care for AIDS Caregivers
Taking Care of Yourself When You Have a Child With Physical, Emotional, or Behavioural Problems
Taking Care of Yourself When Your Child Is Sick

Credits

Current as of: February 27, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Thomas M. Bailey MD - Family Medicine
Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
Gayle E. Stauffer, RN - Registered Nurse

Current as of: February 27, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review:Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Thomas M. Bailey MD - Family Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Gayle E. Stauffer, RN - Registered Nurse

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content.

Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

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