Personal Hygiene & Daily Living Assistance Flashcards

When assisting a client with dressing, which limb should be dressed FIRST if the client has a weak or paralyzed arm?

Answer: The weaker or paralyzed arm first

Dressing the weaker limb first minimizes the range of motion needed and reduces discomfort when threading clothing over a limited joint.

A client with limited mobility needs oral care but cannot rinse and spit independently. The aide should:

Answer: Use a moistened swab or small amount of toothpaste and suction or wipe away secretions

Moistened swabs with suction or careful wiping allow safe oral hygiene for clients who cannot expectorate independently.

The purpose of applying lotion to a client's skin after bathing is PRIMARILY to:

Answer: Prevent skin dryness and cracking that can lead to breakdown

Moisturizing lotion maintains skin integrity by preventing the dryness and micro-cracks that increase infection and pressure injury risk.

When undressing a client who has a painful right shoulder injury, the aide should remove clothing by:

Answer: Starting with the left (unaffected) arm first, then slipping the garment off the right

Removing the unaffected side first creates slack in the garment, making removal from the injured side easier and less painful.

A client requests to shower instead of receiving a bed bath. The aide's BEST response is to:

Answer: Honor the preference, assess safety, and assist with a shower if permitted by the care plan

Respecting client preferences promotes dignity, and verifying safety and care plan permissions ensures the choice is appropriate.

Which observation made during a bed bath should the aide report to the nurse IMMEDIATELY?

Answer: A reddened, non-blanchable area over the sacrum

A non-blanchable red area over a bony prominence is a Stage 1 pressure injury and requires immediate nursing assessment and intervention.

When providing eye care for a client with eye drainage, the aide should wipe each eye using:

Answer: A separate cotton ball per wipe, moving from the inner corner outward

Wiping from the inner corner (near the nose) outward on each stroke with a fresh cotton ball prevents reintroducing debris near the tear duct.