1. NATCEP Day Sixteen

2. Objectives
 Discuss factors that affect a resident’s hygiene needs and practices
 Identify the purposes of bathing
 Identify general guidelines to follow when bathing the resident
including measures for privacy and safety
 SKILL: Partial Bed Bath
 SKILL: Complete Bed Bath
 Identify actions that promote comfort for the resident while being
bathed
 SKILL: Backrub
 Discuss factors related to perineal care
 SKILL: Perineal Care for the Female
 SKILL: Perineal Care for the Male
 Discuss how tub and whirlpool bathes are given
 Discuss how shower baths are given
 Discuss how bag baths are given

3. Factors that Affect Hygiene
 Frequent bathing with soap & water harsh for older
skin
 Fever/illness may change frequency
 Preferences based on past practices
 Allow flexibility while maintaining cleanliness

4. Why bathing?
 Cleans the skin
 Eliminates odors
 Refreshing and relaxing
 Stimulates circulation
 Body parts exercised

5. General Guidelines
 Follow plan of care
 Collect needed items
 Privacy!
 Rinse off soap well – can dry the skin
 Pat skin dry
 Examine skin
 Limit use of powder and bath oils
 Avoid chilling the resident

6. Promote Comfort
 Make a mitt of washcloth
 Keep water comfortably warm and clean
 Wash and dry one body part at a time
 Give a backrub and massage bony prominences with
warmed lotion

9. Perineal Care
 Perineum/Perineal Area: genital and anal areas
 Provided during bath or as needed
 Provided following incontinence of urine or feces
 Use terms the resident understands and that are in
good taste professionally
 Work from clean to dirty using clean area of
washcloth with each stroke

10. Tub or Whirlpool Baths

11. Tub or Whirlpool Baths
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Check water temperature
Follow agency policy for transfers in and out
Never leave resident unattended
Assist as needed
Encourage range of motion
Action of water cleanses, and helps prevent and heal
wounds
 Dry carefully
 Pay close attention to unexposed skin
 Resident may feel faint or dizzy

12. Showers

13. Showers
 Check water temperature
 Never leave resident unattended
 Assist as needed
 If the resident can stand, have him/her grab bars for
support
 Use bath mat or shower chair as needed
 Dry carefully before moving out of shower
 Pay close attention to unexposed skin

14. Bag Baths
 Commercially prepared “bath in a bag”
 Contains 8-10 pre-moistened wash cloths
 No rinsing required
 Warm washcloths according to manufacturer’s
instructions
 Use new washcloth for each body part
 No towels required – air dry