Personal Hygiene & Daily Living Assistance Flashcards

A client who is ambulatory wants to shower. Before allowing the client to enter the shower, the aide should FIRST:

Answer: Check water temperature and place a non-slip mat in the shower

Verifying safe water temperature and ensuring a non-slip mat is in place prevents burns and falls before the client enters.

During foot care, the aide notices a small open sore on the client's heel that was not previously documented. The aide should:

Answer: Document and report the finding to the supervising nurse before proceeding

Any new skin breakdown must be reported and documented so the nurse can assess wound severity and initiate an appropriate treatment plan.

The correct sequence for a complete bed bath is:

Answer: Face → arms → chest → abdomen → legs → back → perineal area

The standard sequence cleans from the cleanest areas (face) to the least clean (perineal) to minimize cross-contamination.

A client has a colostomy. When assisting with hygiene around the stoma, the aide should clean the skin by:

Answer: Gently wiping outward from the stoma with mild soap and water, then patting dry

Gentle outward cleaning with mild soap protects the peristomal skin from breakdown without damaging the stoma itself.

A client's care plan specifies a partial bath (face, hands, underarms, and perineum) rather than a full bath. The aide should:

Answer: Follow the care plan and provide only the partial bath as directed

The care plan is the legal and clinical guide for the aide's actions; deviating from it without authorization is not permitted.

When combing the hair of a client with long, tangled hair, the aide should:

Answer: Start at the ends and work upward toward the scalp in small sections

Starting at the ends and working upward gradually loosens tangles without causing pain or breakage.

Which action by the aide BEST demonstrates respect for a client's dignity during personal hygiene care?

Answer: Exposing only the body part being washed and draping the rest

Draping maintains the client's privacy and dignity by limiting unnecessary exposure during care.