Definition

Noun: 1. Assistance with daily living activities: The act of helping an individual with fundamental tasks necessary for health, hygiene, and well-being, especially when they are unable to perform these tasks independently due to age, disability, or illness. This includes activities like bathing, grooming, dressing, and toileting. 2. The maintenance of one's own hygiene and appearance: The routine practices an individual performs to take care of their own bodily cleanliness and grooming.

Usage

• Personal care is an uncountable noun. It typically refers to the general concept or service, not to individual instances.
• It is commonly used in contexts related to healthcare, social services, and daily living.

Examples

• The nursing assistant provides personal care to the residents, including help with showering and getting dressed.
• After her surgery, she needed assistance with personal care for several weeks.
• Good personal care, such as regular handwashing, is essential for preventing illness.
• The agency offers in-home personal care services for the elderly.

Advanced Usage

• Personal care can be a formal category in healthcare plans, budgets, or service descriptions, distinguishing it from medical care or nursing care.
  • Example: The insurance benefit covers 20 hours of personal care per week.

Variants and Related Words

• Personal Care Assistant (PCA) / Personal Care Aide (PCA): (noun) A professional who provides personal care services.
• Personal care products or Personal care items: (noun phrase) Products used for hygiene and grooming, such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste. This is a distinct, common compound phrase.
  • Example: The pharmacy has an aisle dedicated to personal care products.

Synonyms

• Attendant care
• Custodial care
• Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) assistance (a more clinical term)
• Hygiene assistance

Related Phrases

• To provide personal care: The act of giving this type of assistance.
  • Example: Her daughter provides personal care for her at home.
• To need personal care: To require this type of assistance.
  • Example: Patients recovering from a stroke often need personal care.

Noun

1. care for someone who is disabled or is otherwise unable to care for themselves; can including bathing and cooking and managing bodily functions