What home care aids can assist with personal hygiene?

Showering and bathing can be made easier by using home care aids and equipment.

Essential home care aids for personal hygiene

Older people with limited mobility can find showering difficult. Carers can also come across many obstacles when attempting to shower a person in a limited space. Increase safety in the bathroom and promote independence with the help of home care aids. 

•  Shower chairs: provides a seat for showering with back support.
•  Shower stools: provides a seat for showering in small shower recesses, arms can help with transfers.
•  Bath seats: for easy transfers from standing to sitting in a bath.
•  Bath boards: provides a seat over the bath for bathing or using a shower hose.
•  Bath rails: for gripping to assist with transferring in and out of bath.
•  Rubber bath mat: non-slip surface for standing in a shower recess, shower landing or bath.
•  Handheld bathing sponge: to help with washing hard to reach areas.
•  Handheld shower hose: flexible shower hose to assist with showering whilst seated.
•  Grab rails: assist with standing in a shower recess or transferring out of a shower.  

You can buy shower chairs and accessories from pharmacies, medical supply stores and rehabilitation shops.

An occupational therapist can recommend suitable home care aids and equipment to assist with personal hygiene.

Related articles

• Bathroom safety: How to make the bathroom safe for showering
• Dementia care: Help with personal hygiene and dementia
• Home care aids to help with dressing and grooming
  
• Clothing and dressing tips