How can I help my mother shampoo her hair is she can't bend over from back pain?
My mother has back pain from osteoporosis. She takes care of her personal care except that she can't bend over the sink to wash her hair. We're trying to figure out how to do it with my help - any suggestions?
I do MIL's in the shower, as she too is bent over from osteoporosis. At the beauty shop, they get water all down her back so that is a no-go. I haven't found one that uses the drain-tray thing I've seen advertised in catalogs. Reviews are not good enough for me to worry about buying one myself. When she can't sit up in the shower anymore, I'll probably switch to dry shampoo or the shampoo cap I've heard about.
I remember watching my great grandmom cleaning her hair and scalp with corn meal. Sitting in a rocker with a comb and a brush,and her hair was down to her thighs but she wore it in a bun.
Hair becomrd a big problem as we age. It becomes dry and brittle, looses color and falls out Most people wash their hair too frequently which dries it out. Unless the hair is very greasy or otherwise soiled once or twice a week is more than enough. use whatever position is most comfortable for the elder. If getting water in the eyes is problem give them swim goggles to wear or a wash cloth to hold over the eyes. A simple haircut keeping it short if possible and giving up the perms and colorings if a visit to the beauty shop is not practical. Make the patient look as pretty as possible because that is so good for the patients and caregivers moral. When there is extreme loss of weight try and add a little curl with a curling iron and provide clothes with a high neck and long sleeves so visitors don't see a skeliton in a hospital gown in the bed. Even if the loved on is near the end but want to see family and friends keeping the appearance nice does encourage visitors and allows them to leave with positive memories. very important if a picture of great gandma with a new baby is taken. While we are on the subject of hair do not neglect facial hair. use whateve method works to remove ugly unwanted whiskers. Peach down is fine to leave it it is the long black wire that needs to go.
Thanks for this one (the shower seat and wand). When I suggested it, her face lit up and she said "Yes, I could do that!" She wants me to wield the wand, says she'd get water everywhere, but I think it still makes her feel more in control than the thing in the bed.
We used to do hair washing in bed for pt.s we used something that was designed for bed use if you are near a nursing home usually the PT dept. has catologs of devices for caregivers I know it was easy to use somehow to water would drain off maybe someone else would know where you could order in maybe on line
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Most people wash their hair too frequently which dries it out. Unless the hair is very greasy or otherwise soiled once or twice a week is more than enough. use whatever position is most comfortable for the elder. If getting water in the eyes is problem give them swim goggles to wear or a wash cloth to hold over the eyes. A simple haircut keeping it short if possible and giving up the perms and colorings if a visit to the beauty shop is not practical. Make the patient look as pretty as possible because that is so good for the patients and caregivers moral. When there is extreme loss of weight try and add a little curl with a curling iron and provide clothes with a high neck and long sleeves so visitors don't see a skeliton in a hospital gown in the bed. Even if the loved on is near the end but want to see family and friends keeping the appearance nice does encourage visitors and allows them to leave with positive memories. very important if a picture of great gandma with a new baby is taken.
While we are on the subject of hair do not neglect facial hair. use whateve method works to remove ugly unwanted whiskers. Peach down is fine to leave it it is the long black wire that needs to go.
Work it baby! Sweet, simple, straight-to-the-point, wonderful suggestion.