Some aspects of my wife’s care were awkward, but sometimes we both managed to have a laugh in between crying. We tried to keep our sense of humour intact – that got us through some hard times, and we really needed it. It was just between us and kept us bonded.

Personal hygiene is something we often take for granted. You might encourage the person who is ill to continue attending to their personal hygiene as much as they can to help them keep their independence. However, as the illness advances, they will need support to look after their needs.

Helping the person who is ill stay fresh and clean can help them to feel more comfortable and is an important part of helping them feel their best. Some of your time each day may be spent helping the person with different aspects of personal hygiene. 

This chapter outlines different techniques and provides safe “how to” demonstrations you can use.