Tips for professional carers
From cutting toenails to bed-wetting, we've put together a selection of practical tips and solutions for care staff ... & there's plenty more where these came from!
Reluctant bathers
If someone you are caring for has sensory issues about water and won't wash, let them use wipes etc as a start, or small damp cloth. Encourage them to tolerate water by getting them into doing dishes or washing the car, etc.
Pain training pack
Surrey & Borders Partnership NHS has produced a really useful pack to train staff in pain recognition and management for people with learning disabilities.
Pain pack (49.0 KB)
A finger a day
When cutting Lucy's nails, we tackle one finger a day when she is relaxed, or occupied on something else.
Relax with a head massage
Whilst doing personal care for clients with PMLD [profound and multiple learning disabilities] recently, I had one young man who hated having his teeth cleaned and would bite the toothbrush. One morning whilst washing his hair, I started to give him a head massage. He relaxed so much that the other support worker was able to brush his teeth for the whole three minutes.
Brushing hair
We experimented with different speeds and pressures brushing Lizzie's hair, and quickly found out that she could tolerate slow and firm strokes so much better that light quick strokes, which made her run away.
Protect your knees
Kneeling mats or cheap gardening mats are great for protecting your knees. Keep them in the bathroom or anywhere else you find you are kneeling a lot.
Self prompts
John was having such a good time playing in the shower he kept forgetting to wash himself. My prompts through the door to wash were wearing thin so I got him to prompt himself. He shouts out which bit of the process he is doing and I find he actually gets washed properly this way. I am hoping that once the routine is properly established it can be faded to a silent narrative to himself.
Easy nail trimming
A good time to cut nails is straight after a bath when the nails are nice and soft.
Brushing teeth
A neat trick on occasions you can't brush someone’s teeth is to dip a cotton bud in Listermint or any mouthwash and rub the bud around the base of the teeth and gums. Can help with reducing swelling in swollen gums.
Try using a mirror
If looking directly into your eyes is too invasive for the person you're supporting, try using mirrors to see if they can look at you that way.
No surprises
Tina likes us to tell her well in advance what she is doing so I tell her in plenty of time that bath time is coming up.
Challenging behaviour
When faced with someone who is aggressive and shouting, keep your face neutral and lower the volume and pitch of your own voice. Nine times out of ten, they will quieten down to hear what you are saying.
Blow bubbles
If someone is having a problem with constipation or ‘holding it in’ sit them on the toilet with a bottle of bubbles and encourage them to blow. The steady breathing technique will help them relax and should get things moving.
Let your fingers do the talking
We use our fingers as an aid to teach Jack that one thing leads to another. For example, we hold up one finger & say “First we have a shower” then the second finger & say, “Second we have breakfast”.
The art of distraction
When we're cutting Simon's toenails we use distraction techniques: a book to read aloud from, a handheld electronic game or something he can hold to look at and fiddle with, anything to distract Simon’s attention from his feet!
Make it fun
With girls especially you can turn nail cutting into a manicure session; use bright nail varnish, do a hand massage.
Bicarbonate of soda
Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda (you can usually find it near the flour in the baking section of supermarket) on a wet mattress and it will not only absorb the smell it will soak up the wet. Leave it on the wet patch for as long as you can and then vacuum off.
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