Tips from a Nonmedical Caregiver on Maintaining Hygiene, and Your Physical and Cognitive Health as You Age

It’s no secret that getting older comes with its challenges, most of which can tie into how you’ve treated your body and mind throughout your life, some of which is natural to the aging process. As individuals age, they lose the ability to maintain a high level of physical activity, may experience some troubles with daily tasks, and sometimes become forgetful of things that are typically easy to remember. At Elite Home Care in South Carolina, we have seen firsthand the effects of aging, here are some tips from our nonmedical caregiving staff to help you maintain your daily life as much as you can…

Hygiene Health

Maintaining good hygiene is essential to the wellbeing of your health. As people age, they tend to lose flexibility and lose the drive to maintain their hygiene. To preserve good health, we always recommend regular bathing and oral hygiene. This can help individuals fight off bacteria stemming from lack of cleanliness and preserve the status of your teeth. We know that bathing can get more difficult as you age, which is why we recommend installing a walk-in shower or shower bars (if financially feasible) to help maintain balance. Additionally, we recommend regular hand hygiene and grooming such as clipping nails, washing your hands and shaving.

Physical & Cognitive Health

Maintaining your physical health has a direct impact on your mental & cognitive health in many ways. To preserve physical and cognitive health as you age, we recommend increasing your social interaction, reading books, learning new hobbies (such as knitting, pickle ball, etc), and eating a healthy diet.

In addition to exercise and social interaction, your diet plays a huge role in your longevity. Regularly consulting a doctor should help inform your dietary needs, but we suggest taking your assigned vitamins, eating plenty of greens and staying away from fatty or sugary drinks. A healthy diet can directly impact your physical health and the way your brain reacts to chemicals within the foods we eat.

Consider Elite Home Care

Elite Home Care is a great place to turn if you or a loved one are looking for an in-home caregiver to assist with regular hygiene tasks or a day center facility that provides social interaction. If you’re interested in learning more, get in touch with us by phone or contact one of our locations nearest to you today!