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APPENDIX SEVEN DEFINITION OF PERSONAL CARE
Schedule 1 of the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 defines personal care as:
1. As regards the personal hygiene of the person care for-
(a) shaving;
(b) cleaning teeth (whether or not they are artificial) by means of a brush or dental floss and (in the case of artificial teeth) by means of soaking;
(c) providing assistance in rinsing the mouth;
(d) keeping the finger nails and toe nails trimmed;
(e) assisting the person with going to the toilet or with using a bedpan or other receptacle;
(f) where the person is fitted with a catheter or stoma, providing such assistance as is requisite to ensure cleanliness and that the skin is kept in a favourable hygienic condition;
(g) where the person is incontinent-
(i) the consequential making of the person's bed and consequential changing and laundering of the person's bedding and clothing; and
(ii) caring for the person's skin to ensure that it is not adversely affected.
2. As regards the person's eating requirements-
(a) assisting with the preparation of food;
(b) assisting in the fulfilment of special dietary needs.
3. If the person is immobile or substantially immobile, dealing with the problems of that immobility.
4. If the person requires medical treatment, assisting with medication, as for example by-
(a) applying creams or lotions;
(b) administering eye drops;
(c) applying dressings in cases where this can be done without the physical involvement of a registered nurse or of a medical practitioner;
(d) assisting with the administration of oxygen as part of a course of therapy.
5. With regard to the person's general well-being-
(a) assisting with getting dressed;
(b) assisting with surgical appliances, prosthesis and mechanical and manual equipment;
(c) assisting with getting up and with going to bed;
(d) the provision of devices to help memory and of safety devices;
(e)behaviour management and psychological support.
In addition to the above the 2002 Act also states that personal care is care "as defined in section 2(28) of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001". This states:
"personal care" means care which relates to the day to day physical tasks and needs of the person cared for (for example eating and washing) and to mental processes related to those tasks and needs (for example remembering to eat and wash)
"personal support" means counselling, or other help, provided as part of a planned programme of care"
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