Your dad’s older and his skin dries quickly. As he has diabetes, his doctor said his skincare routines need to take priority. Dried, cracked skin on his feet and legs increases the risk of infection, and that’s not ideal. These tips help you better understand how to take care of your dad’s aging skin and how personal care at home can help.

Keep Him Hydrated

Make sure your dad is well-hydrated. He should aim for a small glass of water every hour or two, depending on how active he is.

A general rule of thumb is three liters of water in foods and beverages for a man unless he has a health condition that limits his water intake. His doctor will advise him if that’s the case.

Make Sure His Home Isn’t Too Dry

Make sure your dad’s home’s air isn’t dry. If your dad frequently gets static electricity zaps, it’s important to add humidity. Shower with the door open to let moisture out into the rest of the house. Or, he could run a humidifier when needed.

Don’t Take Hot Showers

Is your dad likely to shower in the hottest possible water? Turn down his water heater. If it’s hotter than 120 F, it’s too hot. A warm shower is less drying, so he needs to bathe at a cooler temperature.

If he complains about being too cold, look into heat lamps that are part of the bathroom lighting. It warms up the bathroom, so he won’t feel as cold. An electrician can install one for him.

Apply Moisturizer Daily

He’s finished his shower. It’s a good time for your dad to apply moisturizer to his legs, arms, feet, and torso. Doing this while his skin is wet helps to trap moisture.

When he chooses a moisturizer, he wants one that avoids chemical ingredients like alcohol, parabens, or sulfates that can irritate sensitive skin. Look for products that are unscented and contain natural moisturizers like shea butter, coconut oil, or lanolin.

Dry Thoroughly

After a shower, your dad should thoroughly dry his skin or let it air dry. He doesn’t want to put on socks or underwear when his skin is still damp as the wet fabric against his skin can cause issues like fungal growth.

Rely on Personal Care at Home to Help With Hygiene and Grooming Tasks

If you’re not comfortable helping your dad with grooming and hygiene, don’t push yourself to do it anyway. It’s okay to admit that some care tasks are outside of your comfort zone. If a sibling won’t take over or there’s no sibling you can rely on, call a personal care at home specialist.

Learn more about personal care at home prices and schedules. You’ll get answers to your questions and find out how to arrange the services your dad needs.

If you or an aging loved one is considering personal care at home in Granbury, TX, please contact the caring staff at Clear Path Home Care today. Call (817) 631-7710

Clear Path Home Care provides compassionate, high quality home care in Parker County, Tarrant County, Johnson County, Hood County, Somervell County, Erath County, Bosque County and Hamilton County in Texas.

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Clear Path Home Care Staff

Staff at Clear Path Home Care

Clear Path Home Care offers a unique Total Care Management system to optimize each client’s happiness and wellbeing utilizing our carefully vetted Senior Advisory team. We provide coordination between families and all aspects of elder care needs, which may include Home Health, Hospice, Physicians, Hospitals, Skilled Nursing Facilities, or Assisted Living Facilities. Personal care consists of help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, and transferring.

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