During a bed bath for an elderly resident, what is the recommended sequence of washing?

• A. Face and eyes, then the neck, arms and hands, trunk, legs, and back.
• B. Legs, then arms, then face.
• C. Back, then face, then arms.
• D. Abdomen, then legs, then face.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is to bathe in a top-to-bottom, clean-to-dirty order. Washing the face and eyes first uses a clean portion of the cloth and prevents debris from the face from being dragged to other areas. Then moving downward to the neck, arms and hands, trunk, legs, and finally the back keeps areas that are more exposed clean first and lets gravity help keep the wash water moving away from cleaner areas. Using a fresh washcloth for each area supports this sequence and reduces cross-contamination. So washing the face and eyes first, followed by the neck, arms and hands, trunk, legs, and back fits the recommended approach.