Senior home care services understand the aging process. Your skin starts to crack. You not only see fine wrinkles, the fine lines deepen, and you begin to notice spots on your arms, legs and maybe on your face. You are not ready for this distinguishable stage of aging. Some individuals catch the onset of aging skin issues early on and create a regiment of body wellness. However, the older one becomes, these derma changes may be more than just aging issues. Other than skin cancer, there are three major ailments facing seniors. Itchiness, fungal infections and bedsores are common among the elderly.
To begin, older skin is dryer as there are fewer oils that keep the body self-moisturized. Dry skin is susceptible to bruising, infections and rashes. Rashes lead to scratching that also can result in infections. Thin, damaged skin does not heal as quickly as it once did. Minor irritations can become severe wounds leading to illness. A little TLC is needed, and senior home care services can provide a home care aide to support and help teach you how to care appropriately for your skin.
We have been taught to bath or shower every day. However the aging body cannot sustain this treatment. Water is a drying agent, especially hot water. Bathing should be reduced to two to three times a week using warm water, not hot. A minimal amount of soap should be used, and it should be mild with minimal chemical irritants. Using a moisturizer with petroleum jelly rather than one with alcohol content is best. For some, bathing and personal hygiene may be difficult and with senior home care services this can be addressed.
Senior home care services can also provide you with the dos and don’ts of how what you eat and drink can affect your skin. Alcoholic beverages and anything high in caffeine may dehydrate the body, causing more skin irritation. Water is the ideal fluid to drink. However, some elderly individuals may only drink water sparingly, and this is another consideration when assessing skin conditions. Sometimes a little TLC goes a long way to improving skin health.
