By Thomas H.
JEVS Care at Home (JCAH) is different from other home care agencies in many ways. One key difference is our in-house nursing team. Our nurses train our caregivers and help design the plan of care for each JCAH client, including self-care routines for healthy skin. Our nurses are a big reason why we have won several prestigious awards for the care we deliver!
Our head nurse, Kim St. Peter, is an expert in the care of older adults, and she shares her knowledge with both caregivers and clients. Many seniors struggle with dry skin and other issues, so Nurse Kim put together some tips for maintaining healthy skin throughout the year.
Tips for Healthy Skin
Make these tips part of your regular skin care routine.
- Drink plenty of water. Water helps your skin retain its natural moisture.
- Avoid showering in water that is too hot. Hot water removes natural oils from your skin and can make dryness worse.
- Use a moisturizing soap.
- Put on lotion after bathing, which helps skin absorb moisture better.
- Use moisturizers with ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, lanolin, mineral oil, and petroleum jelly.
- Heal dry skin with Vaseline and Aquaphor, which seal in moisture.
- Keep lotion and lip balm like Chapstick handy.
- Brush your lips with a toothbrush to get rid of excess skin.
- Use a humidifier in your bedroom.
- Exfoliate gently to remove dead skin cells.
- Protect your skin from the sun. Use sunblock with a SPF of at least 30
Practice Routine Skin Checks
Building these tips into your personal care routine will help you keep your skin healthy. Taking care of your skin also means checking regularly for signs of skin cancer, which is common among older adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), signs of skin cancer include a new growth, a sore that won’t heal, or changes in the shape or size of a mole. If you see any changes at all in your skin, see a dermatologist right way. She or he can perform an examination to identify skin cancer symptoms.
Contact JEVS Care at Home
A JEVS Care at Home (JCAH) caregiver can help manage your personal care. Contact JCAH to learn more about how our aides can support your skincare routine and with other Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
Posted in Blog JEVS Care at Home