It’s not always easy for seniors to shampoo their hair. Arthritis or other conditions can cause stiff or painful necks, arms or shoulders. It can be uncomfortable, if not downright impossible, to complete a shampoo and rinse.
Getting to the Salon
Homecare Staten Island NY – When Washing Hair is a Challenge: Solutions for Seniors
A shampoo and set at a salon is a popular option for seniors, but it isn’t always easy. Seniors may have difficulty driving to the salon, or it might be tough to get in and out of a taxi. Seniors sometimes have medical conditions that make it hard to leave the house at all.
Unwashed hair can be uncomfortable and unsightly. Caring for hygiene needs, such as keeping clean hair, is an important part of living independently and successfully in one’s own home. So, what can a senior do when it becomes a challenge?
Homecare can Help
Homecare services provide assistance to seniors to take care of the challenges of aging. When hygiene and hair care become a burden, homecare aides are uniquely suited to help.
Homecare can Help with Transportation
With a quick call to a homecare agency, a senior can arrange for a homecare aide to come to their home at a set time. The aide can drive the senior to the salon, and even assist them in and out of the vehicle if needed. The aide can stay with the senior during the appointment and assist them home right away afterward. (If the senior prefers to take care of other errands or go for a scenic drive on the way home, homecare aides can help out there as well. Just make sure to communicate the plans to the agency ahead of time, so they can schedule enough time to do it all!)
Homecare can Help with Hair Care
If leaving the house is unpleasant or uncomfortable for the senior, they may prefer to have the homecare aide assist with a shampoo right in their own home.
Homecare aides can assist a senior with a full bath or shower with shampoo. However, some seniors find it more comfortable to wash their hair in the kitchen sink using a spray attachment, and homecare aides can help with that too.
Aides can even wash a senior’s hair without water, and without even getting out of bed, if necessary! Products like no-rinse or dry shampoo, or inflatable shampoo basins, can also be helpful for people with limited mobility or range of motion.
Homecare can Bring the Salon into the Home
After a shampoo, the homecare aide can comb the hair, blow it dry or use a curling iron. They can’t get as fancy as a beautician can, but they can take care of the basics. They can help a senior feel pampered and beautiful. After the shower, homecare aides can apply lotion to the skin — perhaps a foot massage with scented lotion? They can even provide a simple manicure or file and paint toenails. All in all, they can bring the makings of a pleasant spa experience right into the senior’s own home.
