Personal hygiene in external genitalia of healthy and hospitalized elderly women.

A comparative study of the personal hygiene of two groups of elderly women was carried out in Orebro, Sweden. The investigation group consisted of 28 women who were hospitalized in long-term care wards and the comparison group consisted of 35 healthy women. The results show that a remainder of soap in the genitalia may be one factor contributing to elderly hospitalized women's discomfort. Caregivers should be educated in how to assist elderly hospitalized women with their personal hygiene.