Advice

[sunshine12]

Hi All,

I just wondered how people cope when their loved one cannot wash their hair properly. Are there mobile hairdressers who do hair for people with dementia etc? I helped my mum wash her hair today as she is struggling but unfortunately as I am only 30 I need to work and cannot do this everyday. There are so many tasks now that I am helping out with that it is getting a bit much......I can see us having to pay a carer to pop in soon as it is getting quite demanding. There just doesn't seem to be the help there.

I also find it odd how other family members and so called friends don't bother asking how things are it's as if family are 'for Christmas' only but when things matter they are not around. What I would love and pray for everyday is a miracle to this disease. I really hope it comes soon, every drug trial just keeps saying more testing another five years etc, when are we going to see something that works. If only the big celebrities could use some of their millions to help with research now that would be great.

Thanks all
xx

 

[jeany123]

Perhaps a local care home could give you the number of the hairdresser that they use who would be willing to do home visits.


Jeany x

 

[Christin]

Hello Sunshine, I am sorry to read about your mum. Can I ask if your mum has had a Care Assessment?

This is a link to the AS factsheet Community Care Assessments.

It is really is worth considering requesting one. Your mum may be able to have equipment on loan which will help in the bathroom, as well as possibly having carers visit.

Does your mum have a hairdresser who knows her? It might be worth asking if they would do a home visit.

Very best wishes to you both. x

 

[stefania]

hairdresser

Have you tried at your local hospital, sometimes they will have a hairdresser who is happy to deal with people at home especially if they are not very busy. If not local paper and ring around till you find one who can bring some equipment to help.

 

[Traherne]

Hi. A woman's hair is her glory even when she has dementia! Can she be persuaded that it doesn't need doing every day? Difficult call, I know. I wash my 55 year old wife's hair every day but I'm careful with the conditioner as overuse makes the hair more needy of a daily wash. I do it daily because it's one of the few ways we can get any intimacy these days so it's therapeutic for both of us. I take her to a hairdresser once every 6 weeks for a cut and colour, something she looks forward to. She's had this hairdresser since she had cancer 6 years ago as he specialises in chemo'd hair and his staff know her and about her dementia. So, she gets looked after.
If you're looking for a hairdresser to do it for you, get one whether mobile or salon based who advertises pensioner concessions because if they regularly do pensioners, they'll probably be familiar with dementia.
Personal care is so so important for the sufferer and if you can somehow make her hair an important part of your schedule, it really will mean something to her.
Thinking of you.

 

[sunshine12]

thanks all for your messages, I have not got on well at all finding a mobile hairdresser who has some experience with 'dementia' patients. A care home didn't call me back, one care home gave me the number of someone who they said was mobile etc when I called her she was quite rude to me saying no I work in a salon I don't do that...etc I just can't seem to find anyone. If anyone knows a mobile person in the Essex area in UK I would be really grateful if you could inbox me? For now I am struggling trying to do it myself which isn't going too well. Thanks all and all the best xx

 

[rjm]

Any chance she would consider a shorter cut? My wife's hair is kept fairly short these days (just above the ears) it makes looking after it much easier and I find it doesn't need washing as often, although I still usually do it daily. Sharon doesn't mind me washing her hair but she doesn't like having it dried or brushed so this way its just a quick towel off then by the time she's dressed her hair is dry. Our daughter keeps it trimmed up when she visits.

 

[roxane]

Would your Mum consider going to a weekly day centre. My husband goes three mornings per week and on one of the days they have a hairdresser calling in who also offers nail care.
I think you may find a morning out costs only slightly more than having someone in visiting for an hour and there is a lunch in it too. One day when you yourself dont have to worry about your Mum.

 

[tre]

I do not know where in Essex you are. We are in Herts but near the border, close to Stansted airport and if this is near you I do know of a mobile service who also goes into care homes who my mum withvasculsr dementia was happy to use
Tre

 

[sunshine12]

I do not know where in Essex you are. We are in Herts but near the border, close to Stansted airport and if this is near you I do know of a mobile service who also goes into care homes who my mum withvasculsr dementia was happy to use
Tre

thanks all for your messages and ideas. I tried one of the shampoo caps you can get online and it worked quite well. Tre - if you could pm me the mobile hairdresser details that would be great. Thanks again

 

[Sue J]

Shampoo cap

This may be of help to others - shampoo cap

http://www.homecare-products.co.uk/Products.aspx?sch=shampoo+cap

I hope it's allowed to put this on here, if not maybe a moderator could advise?

 

[tre]

Hello Sunshine,
I have temporarily misplaced the number but I am sure I can get it from my dads when I visit him later in the week. I thought it was in my old diary but it must have been on a post-it somewhere. I PM it to you as soon as I can
Tre