Twigg Research Paper

The Emergence of Bathing in Society Compared to the Roman era from modern day society, the term “bathing” has developed a different connotation. Since Roman times, bathing was viewed as a common routine of heath and well-being. No longer a social event, bathing has become a more private and intimate event, where nakedness is not a part of ordinary social interaction. When the elderly are no longer able to take care of themselves, bathing becomes an issue in which there’s a power imbalance between the caregiver and the elderly person. When the elderly become frail, they’re often put into social care agencies. After having routine tasks that they have performed by themselves for many years, there is a substantial change when the elderly must have tasks done for them. Receiving personal care as follows is often the point of transition for the elderly. Twigg asserts that the definition of personal care is “ … being helped with precisely those tasks that as adults we do for ourselves: getting washed and dressed, moving, eating, and excreting. … …show more content…
An important aspect in Twigg’s assertion towards personal care is that “Personal care also involves nakedness. Nakedness is not, largely, part of ordinary social interaction … to be naked in a social situation, as recipients of personal care are, is therefor to be put in a disjunctive context … nakedness is asymmetrical.” (Twigg 154) Due to the fact that the helper is fully clothed meanwhile the recipient is naked creates a one sided, power imbalance between the caregiver and the elderly person. The hands on help that the elderly receive can be complex when touching the areas “down below.” To them, it can be quite humiliating and degrading. Women interpret the touch from a service provider in a more positive way, while males often feel inferior and vulnerable. Being able to adapt to these changes imposed onto the elderly is