Assistance With Personal Hygiene
The Benefits of Personal Care
Marion, Angela and Tiffany
For many Australians, living at home in the comfort and security of familiar surroundings is a high priority. But as we age and become frail or infirm, this can become challenging. The CareSide understands your loved ones’ desire to stay close to family and friends and to live independently with dignity and comfort.
Many Seniors worry about losing their dignity and their independence as they age and become less able to look after themselves. When your loved one can no longer accomplish personal hygiene tasks such as bathing and toileting without help, it is often better to have a non-family member assist. This assistance preserves the dignity of both family members and your loved one.
Personal Care for Seniors involves an experienced and qualified Caregiver assisting your loved one with their activities of daily living such as:
- Toileting and continence assistance
- Showering and bathing
- Meal preparation and eating
- Grooming and personal hygiene
- Help getting into and out of bed
- Dressing and undressing
- Medication reminders and organization
- Assistance with daily errands such as grocery shopping and appointments
- Bill payment and account management
- Many other daily tasks that may require a little extra assistance
The CareSide Caregivers are deeply respectful and considerate of our clients’ dignity. They always use discretion when supporting clients with their activities of daily living.
After taking Care of themselves for all of their adult life, it is stressful and frustrating for Seniors to lose their mobility and independence. Our Elders must remain active and engaged, or they can deteriorate rapidly, both physically and cognitively.
Families often comment with delight on how the daily battles with their parents have stopped since the CareSide Carers have become involved. We calmly coax the Senior to attend to their Personal Care, where others have previously found it impossible. This has been such a relief to families and also the Senior (after the shower is finished!)
The CareSide Difference
Personal Care Services are available through a My Aged Care approved Home Care Package, or through private services.  Personal Care is  commonly used in Level 3 and HCP Level 4, and the current subsidy is between $33,638 p.a. and $50,991 p.a. If you do not yet have a Home Care Package and think you may be eligible for one, Contact Us, and we will help you apply for one immediately.
The CareSide is an approved government provider of Home Care Packages. Our Mission is to provide you with the Best Value Home Care in WA. Our service prices are 30%-50% lower than other providers due to our low management and administration fees. This means you could receive double the amount of care, support and benefits with us.
We give you the Carer that you want, and better yet, you will have the same Carer each visit. Unlike other providers, we employ all of our Carers. We do not outsource labour-hire or subcontract through other agencies so you won’t get  strangers arriving on your doorstep. If you already have a Carer or know someone who you would like to be your Carer, you can have them too. We can employ Carers from other providers, which is your right under Home Care legislation, and we can onboard and certify family members and friends if appropriate.
We schedule your Carer at the time that you want them. Unlike other providers who schedule Care within a 4-hour window, with us, you can choose the exact times of the day that you would like your Home Care. This gives you the flexibility to plan your day with confidence.
If you have a Home Care Package, you can choose to have No Out Of Pocket expenses with us. We will not force you to top up your package, pay the daily contribution fee, or pay the Income Tested Fee. You can have More Care, For Half the price, with No Out Of Pocket Expenses.
Personal Care Services
Personal Care involves a Carer physically touching your loved. Companion Care does not include any physical touching, which means that Companion Carers do not need to be as skilled or qualified as Personal Carers.
The following section outlines common examples of services available with Personal Care. You can choose to have any combination of these services. If you are interested in any other kinds of services which are available under a HomeCare Package, including Companion Care, Nursing Care, Respite Care, Live In Care or 24 x 7 Care, please Contact Us to discuss them.
Grooming & Hygiene
Hygiene and grooming are essential in making people feel their best and improving their self-confidence.
We can assist in bathing, showering, shampooing, dressing, shaving, hair styling, teeth and denture cleaning, changing of continence products and fitting of personal aids. We ensure that all safety equipment such as non-slip mats, handrails and correct seating is in place.
Toileting and Continence Care
Toileting and continence care are sensitive issues for our clients. Without adequate assistance, people can face health and hygiene issues. Seniors can experience rashes, skin infections, unpleasant odours, internal infections and irritations.
Our Caregivers offer kindness and empathy to help preserve dignity during these normal daily activities.
Mobility
One in three people over 65 will have a fall each year. The result is often a loss of physical mobility, chronic pain and loss of confidence. A trip to the hospital is common, and the average length of stay is seven days.
One of the best ways to reduce the risk of a fall is to increase core strength through exercise. Our Caregivers assist with practical exercises, and we can organise physiotherapy if required.
When transporting clients, we use an appropriate vehicle that Seniors can quickly transfer in and out of and accommodates mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walkers.
Nutrition
Optimal physical and mental health is maintained through a healthy and nutritious diet. Elders often have meal plans prescribed by a physician due to existing medical conditions. We will assist them in following their prescribed diet to prevent or control conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.
If desired, we can organise for an appropriate meal plan to be developed through one of our dieticians.
Meals are always more enjoyable with good company, so our Caregivers accompany our clients at mealtime, engaging them while they eat, assisting them if necessary. We will report any noticeable weight loss/gain or adverse side effects of their diet.
Transferring & Positioning
To preserve mobility, Seniors must frequently move. We encourage them to get in and out of bed, enter and exit the bath or shower, sit up and down in chairs, and reposition in wheelchairs.
Correct transferring and positioning reduces the risk of decubitus ulcers (bedsores) and also helps to reduce muscle atrophy while encouraging deep breathing and digestion.
Tips On How To Care For A Loved One At Home
Are Looking After A Loved One At Home?
If your loved one is at the stage of requiring personal care, then they will need help with their personal hygiene activities.
Toileting, showering, grooming, shaving, turning and transferring require special skills to ensure your loved one stays safe and healthy.
Our guide to Providing Personal Care describes the activities that need to be done to keep your loved one safe and clean, and how to perform them.
The guide also describes the conditions to watch out for and what to do if you see the early warning signs of things like infection, bowel obstruction, loss of skin integrity and loss of appetite.
If you would like more information on any aspects of personal care, Contact Us, and one of our friendly nurses or Care Managers provide you with expert guidance.