M13 · Cannot groom or care for appearance
Actual Movement and self-care
Definition
The person cannot manage hair, teeth, nails, shaving, or similar personal care.- Weakness
- fatigue
- low mood
- paralysis
- Unwashed hair
- unkempt look
- teeth not brushed
📋 Scenario
A depressed patient stops brushing his hair and teeth.
Subjective (S): "I just don't care how I look anymore."
Objective (O): Unwashed hair; unshaven; teeth not brushed for 3 days; low mood noted.
Assessment tools for this scenario: CP-MOVE Movement & Self-Care Score
Validated scales to consider: Barthel Index, Katz ADL
**CarePath diagnosis:** Cannot groom or care for appearance related to low mood, as evidenced by unwashed hair, being unshaven, and teeth not brushed for 3 days.
**Interventions and rationale**
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Assist with grooming. | Help with the parts he is not managing keeps him clean and comfortable and protects his mouth and skin health. |
| Encourage independence. | Doing tasks himself keeps his skills and builds a sense of control, which supports recovery of mood. |
| Offer choices. | Choices, such as what to wear or when to groom, give him back some control, which helps when mood is low. |
| Support dignity. | Care that respects dignity improves self-worth and encourages him to take an interest in himself again. |
**Expected outcomes**
- Within 1 week: grooms daily with prompting and says he feels more like himself.
- Hygiene checks completed.
**Linking the data to the diagnosis**
A depressed patient says, "I just don't care how I look anymore." His hair is unwashed, he is unshaven and he has not brushed his teeth for 3 days, with low mood noted. He is not caring for his appearance now, so an actual statement fits and a risk statement does not. The plan aims to restore grooming with help, choices and respect. Within 1 week the expected outcomes are grooming daily with prompting, saying he feels more like himself and completed hygiene checks.
CarePath diagnosis
Cannot groom or care for appearance related to low mood, as evidenced by unwashed hair, being unshaven, and teeth not brushed for 3 days.
Interventions and rationale
Listed in priority order.
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| 1. Assist with grooming. | Help with the parts he is not managing keeps him clean and comfortable and protects his mouth and skin health. |
| 2. Encourage independence. | Doing tasks himself keeps his skills and builds a sense of control, which supports recovery of mood. |
| 3. Offer choices. | Choices, such as what to wear or when to groom, give him back some control, which helps when mood is low. |
| 4. Support dignity. | Care that respects dignity improves self-worth and encourages him to take an interest in himself again. |
Expected outcomes
- Within 1 week: grooms daily with prompting and says he feels more like himself.
- Hygiene checks completed.
Linking the data to the diagnosis
A depressed patient says, "I just don't care how I look anymore." His hair is unwashed, he is unshaven and he has not brushed his teeth for 3 days, with low mood noted. He is not caring for his appearance now, so an actual statement fits and a risk statement does not. The plan aims to restore grooming with help, choices and respect. Within 1 week the expected outcomes are grooming daily with prompting, saying he feels more like himself and completed hygiene checks.