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1. Protect the body from injury
2. Act as a very important sense organ for touch, temperature, pressure and pain to help us react to the surroundings

As a person ages, the skin becomes dry, less elastic and may have brown spots.
Some symptoms of dry skin include:

• Roughness
• Scaling
• Cracks
• Itchiness

Dry skin can crack, allowing bacteria to enter and cause infection. Signs of skin infection include redness, swelling, pain, pus and a bad smell. Call the doctor if this happens.

Treatment & Prevention

• Apply a moisturiser or baby lotion after bathing to prevent dry skin or too much wrinkling. Moisturisers provide a film over the skin & reduce loss of water.
• Alternatively, apply a skin softener like urea based creams. Skin softeners increase water content in the skin.
• Use an umbrella and apply sunblock lotion when going under the sun.
• To prevent dryness of hands, wear rubber gloves when washing dishes or using strong cleaning agents.

• Poor skin condition due to insufficient intake of water and nutrients
• Warmth and moisture on the skin due to absence of turning whilst in bed and improper drying of the skin surface

• Vigilant turning and positioning at two hour intervals
• Avoiding friction between skin and bed surfaces during turning and positioning.
• Do not drag the person on bedlinen.
• Using pillows or foams to keep bony areas from direct contact with one another
• Using pressure relieving mattress
• Providing a cool environment
• Changing wet linen immediately
• Keeping skin dry at all times
• Avoiding creases in bed-making
• Using barrier creams on pressure areas
• Sufficient water and nutrients

	areas prone to pressure sores

1. Check the skin around the nail for dryness and cracks. The cracks may lead to infections with formation of pus. Always apply a moisturiser or skin softener to prevent dry skin.
2. Ingrown toe nails occur when the hard nails grow into the softer skin around. This can be prevented by cutting the nails straight across and wearing properly fitted shoes.

When in doubt, ask anyone in the healthcare team.

Foot Care
The elderly bedridden person presents many challenges to the carer. The foot is susceptible to a number of complications which may further compromise the health of the bedridden person. One of the primary concerns for a bedridden person is bed sores or pressure sores. The heel and the ankle bones are the most common sites for these injuries.

Wash feet daily with lukewarm water & mild soap	Cut your nails straight across. Gently file rough edges.

Bedsores
A bedridden person is more susceptible to develop bedsores on pressure points such as heel and ankle. You can help to prevent these by:

• Supporting the foot off the bed with pillows
• Changing the person’s position in bed frequently
• Stretching and moving the person’s joints periodically

Toe Nails
Toe nails of the elderly tend to become thickened and brittle. The patient may develop discomfort as a result of these thickening and deformities.

• Keep the toe nails trim and smooth
• Use a nail file at least once a week
• Seek professional help from podiatrists or chiropodists, if nails are difficult to manage

Skin
Aging tends to make skin dry and fragile. It is important to keep the skin of the lower leg moist and supple. Use moisturiser which will help the skin to resist abrasions.

Keep the skin, heels and sole supple by applying lanolin, but do not apply between toes. If you tend to perspire, dust feet with foot powder or baby powder.

• Personal Hygiene & Nutrition
  
• Incontinence
  
• Wound Care
  
• Exercise & Mobility
  
• The Psychosocial Aspect of Caregiving
  
• Medical Care
  
• Safe Use of Medicine
  
• Dying