VISITING ANGELS SOUTHLAKE, TX 817-684-1996
Facebook YouTube X Instagram
The Benefits of Proper Handwashing for Older Adults

The Benefits of Proper Handwashing for Older Adults

December celebrates National Handwashing Awareness Week. As the holidays approach, it's an excellent time to review proper handwashing techniques so that we all spread more joy and not germs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises everyone to follow five steps to clean their hands effectively.

Step One — Wet your hands with warm or cool water, whichever you prefer

Step Two — Lather your hands with soap, applying soap to both sides of your hands, between your fingers, and underneath your nails

Step Three — Scrub your hands for 20 seconds or the duration of humming "Happy Birthday" all the way through, twice

Step Four — Rinse your hands with clean, running water

Step Five — Dry your hands with a clean towel or let them air dry

Diligent hand washing can significantly impact an older adult's health, especially during the flu season and as COVID continues to affect daily life. Here are four benefits of proper handwashing for older adults.

Handwashing Prevents Illnesses

Proper handwashing is the most effective way to remove germs from hands. Although hand sanitizers have grown in popularity over the years, soap and water continue to be the most effective way to wash away germs. Germs are microscopic and impossible to see. Even if your hands feel clean, tiny germs can linger. These germs then spread to other surfaces or people and can also make their way into your body. Washing your hands frequently and thoroughly stops the spread of germs and helps prevent infections.

Handwashing Reduces the Risk of Food-Borne Illnesses

Most of us associate handwashing with the bathroom. While we all need to wash our hands after using the bathroom, we also need to wash our hands before, during, and after preparing food. According to a study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, consumers are failing to wash their hands correctly 97 percent of the time. This can lead to cross-contamination of food and other surfaces, resulting in food-borne illnesses. Nearly all food-borne illnesses are a result of poor handwashing. Food-borne illnesses aren't limited to restaurants; they can happen in your own home just as easily.

Handwashing Wards Off Infection

Multiple studies have concluded that we touch our faces far too frequently than we think we do. We easily touch our eyes, nose, and mouth multiple times within an hour. Each time we touch our face, we provide the perfect opportunity for germs and bacteria to enter our bodies and cause infection. Properly washing your hands frequently throughout the day minimizes the likelihood of bacteria and germs entering the body when you touch your face. Minimizing this risk for germ transfer helps to ward off infections of all kinds.

Handwashing Helps to Kill Lingering Bacteria

Although proper handwashing removes germs from your hands, some bacteria can survive for up to three hours or longer if they find refuge in your fingernails and cuticles. In addition to surviving on your hands, bacteria can survive for days on certain surfaces, such as door handles, credit cards, and the soles of your shoes. If you aren't in the habit of frequently washing your hands, you expose yourself to these lingering bacteria every time you touch a surface. Proper handwashing helps to kill bacteria that are determined to survive.

If you are a senior who could benefit from a companion caregiver, look no further than Visiting Angels Southlake. Not only are our caregivers proficient in hand hygiene, but each caregiver has completed a background check, criminal history check, and previous employment verification. We are bonded, licensed and insured with the state of Texas. Our commitment to safety is one of many reasons why we are a trusted resource for senior care services in the area. Don't wait until the New Year to start receiving the help you need at home. Please get in touch with us today by calling 817-684-1996.

Serving Southlake and the Surrounding Areas

Visiting Angels SOUTHLAKE, TX
630 E Southlake Blvd #135
Southlake, TX 76092
Phone: 817-684-1996
Fax: 817-224-2868

Serving Southlake and the Surrounding Areas

Visiting Angels SOUTHLAKE, TX
630 E Southlake Blvd #135
Southlake, TX 76092
Phone: 817-684-1996
Fax: 817-224-2868