FREE STUDY · 4.5 MIN LESSON
ADLs & Personal Care
Read the lesson, then use the free narrated cards to check what you remember. Knowledge practice does not replace approved training, supervised practice or a competency assessment. Follow the rules for your role, state and workplace.
ADLs & Personal Care
- Review the explanation, pause to recall, then practise the cards.
- Written knowledge study does not replace approved hands-on training.
Understand the care plan
- Wash clean areas first and dirty areas last. Start with the face and eyes, then move down the body, and finish with the perineal area and bottom.
- Check the water for safety and comfort using the facility procedure, then ask the resident to confirm comfort. Follow the care plan and any specified temperature limits. A single temperature or your own skin test does not guarantee safety for every resident.
- For female perineal care, wipe from front to back, away from the urethra toward the rectum, using a clean area of the cloth for each stroke. This reduces transfer of organisms; it does not guarantee prevention of a urinary tract infection.
Apply the safety checks
- Dress the weak (affected) side first. When undressing, remove clothing from the strong side first. The saying is 'dress the worst first, undress the best first.' This prevents pain and injury to stiff or weak joints.
- Follow the individualized repositioning and pressure-relief plan for both bed and chair. Report new persistent redness, discoloration, warmth or other skin changes promptly; do not diagnose the injury stage or massage a reddened pressure area. The schedule depends on the person, skin response and support surface.
- Follow the assessed feeding and swallowing plan. Credentia specifies upright sitting at 75 to 90 degrees for its feeding skill. Offer small amounts at the resident's pace and observe swallowing. Do not independently add a chin tuck or change food texture. Stop and get help for coughing, choking or reduced alertness.
Respond and report
- Reduce avoidable noise and help keep the room comfortable. Support the resident's usual sleep routine and care plan.
- Use the upright position specified in the care plan, and gently clean the tongue and all tooth surfaces. Keep supplies clean and respect privacy.
- No. Offer fluids consistent with the care plan. A clinician's fluid restriction needs clarification through the care team, not an aide's independent change.
- Keep drainage flowing without kinks. Keep the bag below bladder level and off the floor. Follow the catheter-care plan and report problems; do not independently clamp or disconnect the system. This is care knowledge; Credentia marks catheter care as not tested in Maryland.
Pause and recall
In what order do you wash a resident's body during a bed bath?
How do you check bathing water safely?
Check your answers
- Wash clean areas first and dirty areas last. Start with the face and eyes, then move down the body, and finish with the perineal area and bottom.
- Check the water for safety and comfort using the facility procedure, then ask the resident to confirm comfort. Follow the care plan and any specified temperature limits. A single temperature or your own skin test does not guarantee safety for every resident.