Proper perineal care is a fundamental part of maintaining a resident’s hygiene, dignity, and overall health in a healthcare setting. This sensitive area is especially vulnerable to infection, skin breakdown, and discomfort—particularly for residents who are incontinent, bedridden, or recovering from surgery. Providing thorough and gentle perineal care helps prevent urinary tract infections, reduces the risk of pressure injuries, and promotes comfort and cleanliness. Beyond its clinical importance, this skill reflects respect for the resident’s privacy and personal boundaries, reinforcing the compassionate, person-centered care that every individual deserves.

You will need the following to Provide Perineal Care to an Incontinent Resident: 

• Barrier
• Privacy Blanket
• Bath Basin
• 4 Washcloths
• Soap
• Towel
• Gloves
• 2 Underpads (Chucks)

1. Opening & Hand Hygiene

• Read and follow the Care Plan, the whole Care Plan, and nothing but the Care Plan.
• Knock and announce yourself before entering.
• Greet the Resident by name and introduce yourself.
• Explain the task to the Resident and ensure their comfort and consent.
• Close the Privacy Curtain
• Wash your hands thoroughly before beginning.
• Assess Glove Rules (Are Gloves required for this Resident?)

2. Peri Care Preparation

• Place Barrier on the Bedside Table
• Gather your Supplies.
  • Do Not allow supplies to touch your Uniform
  • Do Not touch supplies until your hands are clean.
• Place supplies on Barrier. 
• Retrieve Wash Basin and bring to the sink. 
• Use a paper towel to turn water on. 
• Using your forearm, verify water temperature. 
• Using Warm water, fill Wash Basin.
• Ask Resident to Check Water Temperature.
• Adjust Temperature accordingly.
• Place Wash Basin on Barrier. 
• Place Washcloths in Wash Basin.
• Cover Resident with Privacy Blanket for Privacy.
  • Do Not Snap or Shake blanket when unfolding.
• Pull Resident’s Sheet underneath Privacy Blanket down around their knee area. 
• Unfold Barrier and roll up lengthwise, toward you, place on Barrier.
  • Clean rolls towards you, dirty rolls away. 
  • Do Not allow it to touch your Uniform. 
• Repeat with Second Barrier.
• Put on a Pair of Gloves.
• Place a rolled Barrier on the bed, near the Resident’s midsection. 
• Ask Resident to Scoot toward you and Roll away. 
• While supporting Resident on their side, roll the Soiled Barrier away from you, toward the Resident, tucking it under the Resident.
• Unroll the Clean Barrier toward the Resident, tucking it under the Soiled Barrier. 
• Ask Resident to Roll back onto the Barrier and Scoot toward the center of the bed. 
• Proceed to other side of the bed. 
• Ask Resident to Scoot towards you, and Roll towards the center. 
• While supporting Resident on their side, continue to roll and remove the Soiled Barrier. 
• Unroll Clean Barrier under Resident. 
• Allow Resident to lie back onto their Back on the Barrier.
• Dispose of Soiled Barrier in garbage. 

2. Providing Peri Care – Front

• After Notifying Resident of intended Skill and ensuring consent, you may begin. 
• Roll Privacy Blanket and gown up together to expose the Perineal Area.
  • Starting at Resident’s Feet. 
• Cover Resident’s upper legs with a Towel.
• Retrieve a Washcloth and wring it out. 
• Using the LEAVES Method, soak 5 corners of the Washcloth with Soap.
• Always clean Top to Bottom.
• Using the heel of your hand at the top of the Peri Area and your index and middle fingers to hold Resident’s Peri Area open. 
• Clean down the Inside-Middle of the Peri Area. 
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using Second Leaf, clean the Labia Top to Bottom on one side. 
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using Third Leaf, clean other side of Resident’s Labia Top to Bottom.
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using fourth Leaf, clean the Area between the Leg and Peri Area on one side. 
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using the Final Leaf, clean the area between the leg and Peri Area on the other side. 
• Place Dirty Washcloth back on Barrier. 
• Retrieve Clean Washcloth from Basin. 
• Rinse all Areas previously Washed, in the same manner. 
• Using the heel of your hand at the top of the Peri Area and your index and middle fingers to hold Resident’s Peri Area open. 
• Rinse the Inside-Middle of the Peri Area. 
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using Second Leaf, rinse the Labia Top to Bottom on one side. 
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using Third Leaf, rinse other side of Resident’s Labia Top to Bottom.
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using fourth Leaf, rinse the Area between the Leg and Peri Area on one side. 
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using the Final Leaf, rinse the area between the leg and Peri Area on the other side. 
• Place Dirty Washcloth back on Barrier. 
• Using the Towel on Resident’s Legs, dry all rinsed areas.
  • Use short, soft strokes or a gentle pat. 
• Unroll Resident’s Gown and Blanket to cover their Legs. 

3. Providing Peri Care – Back

• Ask Resident to Scoot towards you, and Roll Resident onto their side. 
• Retrieve Clean Washcloth, and wring out. 
• Apply soap to all 4 Leaves. 
• Starting at the bottom and moving upward, clean Resident’s center crease. 
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Clean one Buttocks
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Clean other Buttocks.
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using Final Leaf, clean center crease once again. 
• Place dirty Washcloth on Bedside Table. 
• Retrieve Clean Washcloth from Washbasin and wring out. 
• Starting at the bottom and moving upward, rinse Resident’s center crease. 
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Rinse one Buttocks
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Rinse other Buttocks.
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using Final Leaf, Rinse center crease once again. 
• Place dirty Washcloth on Bedside Table. 
• Using short, soft strokes or gentle pats, dry all areas. 
• Roll Soiled Barrier away from you, toward Resident, tucking it underneath them. 
• Unroll Clean Barrier toward Resident, tucking it underneath the Soiled Barrier. 
• Roll Resident onto their Back onto the Barrier.
• Move to the other side of the bed. 
• Scoot Resident towards you, and Roll them onto their right side. 
• Roll up, remove and dispose of Soiled Barrier in garbage. 
• Unroll Clean Barrier. 
• Lie Resident back onto their back and Scoot towards the center of the bed.
• • • •  

4.  Clean up and Closing

• Place towel and wash cloths in Soiled Linens. 
• Pour Wash Basin into Sink. 
• Clean Wash Basin per Facility guidelines.
• Use a Paper Towel to pick up Wash Basin.
• Dry Wash Basin with Paper Towels. 
• Using a paper towel, place Soap back into Basin, and place Basin in Bedside Storage. 
• Dispose of Paper Towels. 
• Remove Barrier from Bedside Table, rolling into a ball to prevent contamination, dispose of in Garbage. 
• Remove and Dispose of gloves. 
• Lifting from the bottom, collect Privacy Blanket up into a Ball and place in dirty linens. 
• Cover Resident with Sheet as you Remove Privacy Blanket. 
• Ensure Resident is comfortable.
• Provide Resident with Call light.
• Open Privacy curtain and ensure bed is in lowest position.
• Think about the Steps of your Skill. Make any corrections. Tell the evaluator your Skills is complete. 

Avoid these common testing errors when Providing Perineal Care to an Incontinent Resident:

• Not reading and following the Care Plan, the whole Care Plan, and nothing but the Care Plan.
• Not Greeting or introducing yourself to Resident. 
• Not describing Task. 
• Not following Proper privacy practices while Providing Care.
• Not closing Privacy Curtain. 
• Touching Resident with Dirty hands.
• Not protecting Resident’s Bed with Barrier.
• Not Replacing Soiled Barriers.
• Not ensuring Resident is centered on the Bed while providing care. 
• Not placing Soiled Linens in proper bin. 
• Allowing soiled linens to touch the floor. 
• Allowing soiled linens to touch your Uniform. 
• Allowing Clean supplies to touch your Uniform. 
• Not returning Resident’s Bed to the lowest position while wrapping up Skill.
• Not verifying Water Temperature with Resident.
• Forcing Resident to use an uncomfortable Water Temperature.
• Emptying Wash Basin in incorrect location. 
• Not Properly washing Wash Basin.
• Not Following proper LEAVES Method while Providing Care.
• Not Washing all Areas appropriately.
• Not Rinsing all Areas appropriately.
• Not Drying all Areas appropriately.
• Wiping the wrong direction while cleaning. 
• Not providing Resident with Call Light.
• Not ensuring bed is left in the lowest position.