Why Poor Hygiene Standards Lead to Health Risks

Poor hygiene can impact anyone’s health. But, older adults and people with disabilities often have underlying conditions that can make a lack of personal hygiene care worse. For instance, thinning skin can worsen the effects of improper bathing practices. Nursing home residents also depend on their caregivers to practice proper hand washing and other hygiene procedures to prevent the spread of illness in group living situations.

While an aging parent might have once had good hygiene, they may not be able to manage basic procedures for toothbrushing, bathing and using the restroom. Nursing homes and other caregiving facilities have an obligation and responsibility to provide assistance with these essential hygiene needs.

As you begin exploring how poor hygiene impacts a person’s health, you’ll also want to consider the general cleanliness of a facility. For instance, changing soiled bed linens is a form of hygiene care that prevents bedsores and infections. Failing to provide a senior adult with soap in the restroom or shampoo for their hair could also fall into the category of hygiene neglect.

Learning more about why you should expect a nursing home and other facilities to follow proper hygiene protocols helps you provide the best possible care for your loved one. You can also use this guide to know what to do if you believe that your loved one is experiencing the effects of neglect and abuse from their time in a nursing home or other residential facility.

Understand How Poor Hygiene Impacts Physical Health

Failing to brush your teeth or bathe for one night might make you a little uncomfortable. But, prolonged failure to provide hygiene care to seniors can rapidly lead to major declines in their physical health.

Seniors with incontinence often develop painful rashes, infections and sores when their caregivers don’t assist with cleaning their bodies after they soil their clothing. Being unable to bathe regularly can also lead to bedsores and other skin conditions. If a senior already has a skin condition such as psoriasis, then failing to properly care for their health can lead to complications.

Dental hygiene is another area where hygiene is often overlooked. Many people in nursing homes lack the dexterity they need to properly brush, floss and care for dentures. Oral infections are also linked to cardiovascular issues and potential respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia.

In some of the worst cases of hygiene neglect, a vulnerable person might experience systemic illnesses. Ignoring bedsores can lead to gangrene that requires amputations. Meanwhile, someone who doesn’t receive proper hygiene assistance could develop sepsis from living in unsanitary conditions.

Watch for Signs of Physical and Mental Distress

Experiencing poor hygiene care can leave seniors and others feeling depressed and anxious. Your loved one may feel embarrassed about having unwashed hair, or they may fear that they smell bad to others. For many vulnerable people, this can lead to avoiding social situations. For instance, a senior who is worried about their appearance might opt out of attending a group event in their nursing home. Or, they might opt out of going to the dining hall to eat.

Social isolation can have cascading effects on a person’s overall health. Someone who isn’t able to spend time talking to their loved ones might begin to experience delays in their verbal abilities, especially when they are recovering from a stroke or oral surgery. Many people simply give up on trying to manage the hygiene needs that they can do when they have depression, which causes them to no longer see the point.

Although you might not be able to spend every minute looking after your loved one, you may be able to notice some signs that they are experiencing neglect. For instance, your aging parent might look disheveled with unwashed hair or dirty skin when they once cared deeply about their appearance. Wearing the same clothing every day is another sign that your love one might not be bathing regularly.

If poor hygiene continues for long, your loved one may complain about rashes, toothaches and other painful conditions. Non-verbal adults might squirm or make other signs of discomfort if they are experiencing a painful rash from poor incontinence care. Developing skin infections, pneumonia or having a bad odor are additional things to act on when you notice them occurring.

Know How to Follow Up On Nursing Home Hygiene Concerns

Anytime you witness neglect or abuse in a nursing home, your first step is to make sure your loved one is safe and that their health and hygiene needs are handled appropriately. Requesting a linen change can instantly improve your loved one’s condition if they are dealing with soiled bedsheets and rashes.

However, you’ll also need to move forward with finding long-term solutions. Talking to a compassionate nursing home abuse lawyer can help you identify the next steps to take. For instance, you might need to request a transfer to another facility or work with the proper authorities to ensure that hygiene standards are enforced in your loved one’s home. Many survivors of hygiene neglect also benefit from filing abuse and personal injury claims that give them the compensation they need to move forward with proper health care and finding safer living conditions.

Seniors and other vulnerable adults face potentially life-threatening health conditions when they don’t receive the hygiene care they need to be safe. Family members, friends and other caregivers should always stay alert for signs that a senior isn’t receiving proper hygiene care. In some cases, physicians, nurses and other members of a healthcare team may report their suspicions of neglect when they treat a patient.

While no one should suffer from a lack of hygiene care, it is important to act quickly to prevent the harm from worsening. Always reach out to the proper authorities and medical providers if you notice neglect occurring in a nursing home or other caregiving environment. Once you’ve cared for your loved one’s immediate health needs and found a safe environment for their ongoing care, you can begin working through the legal aspects of planning for a healthier future.