journal articles
BODY ODOUR IN INSTITUTIONALISED OLDER ADULTS: PERSPECTIVES OF FEMALE CAREGIVERS IN HONG KONG NURSING HOMES
H.Y.K. Tong, S.Y.C. Yue, J. Woo, H.H. Fung, Y. Cheng, H. Chen, A. Kleinman
Jour Nursing Home Res 2026;12:11-15
BACKGROUND: Body odour in older adults is a complex phenomenon that remains under-explored in nursing home and geriatric care settings. While age-related odour cues are biologically and socially significant, their implications for caregiving practice, resident dignity, and care quality require further investigation.
METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted between August and November 2023 in a licensed private nursing home in Hong Kong. Ten female caregivers were purposively sampled, and participated in individual semi-structured interviews covering four domains: odour perception, association with medical conditions, association with functional status, and management strategies. Caregivers rated separately the odour intensity (1-10) of residents with reference to the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living. Data were analysed using deductive thematic analysis, and ratings were summarized descriptively.
RESULTS: Caregivers described residents’ body odour as noticeable with words such as “strong” or “musty”, yet did not express dehumanising or rejecting attitudes, reflecting professional habituation and emotional coping. Odour intensity was closely linked to functional dependency, particularly limitations in bathing and continence, and was interpreted as a clinical cue for conditions such as diabetes, chronic wounds, and poor oral hygiene. In the absence of formal training or institutional protocols, odour management relied on routine hygiene care and peer support. Caregivers also perceived that body odour contributed to stigma and ageist stereotypes among visitors and the wider community.
CONCLUSIONS: Frontline female caregivers in Hong Kong use body odour as a non-verbal indicator of health and functional status in older residents, despite limited organisational recognition or guidance. Findings support the integration of olfactory assessment and evidence-based odour management into geriatric training and care policies to promote dignified and age-inclusive care.
CITATION:
H.Y.K. Tong ; S.Y.C. Yue ; J. Woo ; H.H. Fung ; Y. Cheng ; H. Chen ; A. Kleinman ; (2026): Body Odour in Institutionalised Older Adults: Perspectives of Female Caregivers in Hong Kong Nursing Homes. The Journal of Nursing Home Research Science (JNHRS). http://dx.doi.org/10.14283/jnhrs.2026.2