Proper Hand Hygiene for Older Adults
One of the best ways to prevent flu and other diseases is to wash your hands frequently. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that hand washing can prevent about 30% of diarrhoea-related illnesses and about 20% of respiratory infections.
While it might seem like a no-brainer, there are some important considerations that you need to know about proper handwashing as you age. Take note of these hand hygiene facts and strategies to keep your hands clean and germ-free.
How Germs Spread on Hands
Germs spread through various routes. They can be transmitted directly from person to person through touching, hugging, or using personal items like cups and cutlery. They can also be transferred indirectly through contaminated surfaces, which occurs when a person touches items like doorknobs, light switches, or shared devices that have germs on them, and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth.
Proper Handwashing Technique
Here are the 4 key steps to wash your hands effectively to remove germs and prevent the spread of illness.
To ensure you wash your hands for the recommended 20 seconds, you can sing various songs. Aside from Happy Birthday, the choruses of the following popular songs can be considered:
- Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond
- Africa by Toto
- Baby One More Time by Britney Spears
- Livin’ On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
When to Wash Your Hands
The most important times for us to wash our hands are before and after eating and after doing any type of cleaning around the house. It is also recommended to wash your hands under the following circumstances:
- Before, during, and after preparing food
- After using the toilet
- After coughing, sneezing, or caring for someone who is sick
- After putting out the garbage
- After touching animals or their food
- After changing nappies or cleaning up after a child:
- Whenever your hands feel dirty
Final Thoughts
While we often focus on diet, exercise, and regular medical check-ups, the simple act of handwashing plays a surprisingly important role in safeguarding our health, especially as we enjoy our senior years. Take note of the above hand hygiene facts and make handwashing a regular part of your day to keep infections away!
