Break it down into easy steps – it is a good idea to break the process down into steps, and to say at each step what it is that you are about to do. This avoids any surprises and if your loved one wants to step in and take over, they can. A no-rinse conditioner – this can make things a little easier as there is no need for a second rinsing. These are not a cheap option and could be supplied through your government health care system after an assessment with an Occupational Therapist. Before you do anything, you need to simply ask your parent if they would like a little help, or would they like to go to a salon, or a barber shop to get their hair done.

Scoop warm water to wet the hair and use a slight quantity of shampoo to wash their hair. Too much shampoo will make it difficult to rinse off. If you are helping your parent wash their feet, you want to go slowly, as toes are often arthritic, and it can be very painful if you start pulling on swollen toes and joints. sight and hearing losses – if your loved ones have visual or auditory conditions they may be greatly inhibited in what they can do, firstly from the standpoint of time as everything takes so much longer if you can’t see or hear properly, and secondly because they may well be justly frightened of having an accident due to their diminished capacities – my mother has eye conditions and hearing loss, and I know that it greatly slows her down, and also the changes in lighting can make her dizzy and prone to losing her balance for a moment or so, which is hardly very safe in a showerThe first two methods of hair washing at the sink both take place seated in a chair, but there are other methods which do not involve a fixed sink. loss of dignity – your loved one may well know, and want to have some help with washing their hair, but they may be feeling compromised as they feel that there is a loss of dignity involved – with both my parents we have found ways of getting around this, but it may be too difficult for some parents at first, and they just can’t ask Health Products For You offers a wide range of hair wash aids that enable users to have rejuvenating hair wash on their beds or chairs. We deal with products from top manufacturers like EZ-Access, Maddak, Patterson Medical, Medline Industries, etc. Shop now! Article on Hair Washing Assistive Devices It’s a simple shower cap filled with shampoo product that is placed on your loved ones head, massaged in and then simply toweled off to remove the product and any dirt.

I know I had to learn to slow down a lot for my mom, as I went way too fast, and she would get very frustrated as she couldn’t hear me properly and didn’t realize what I was trying to do. In the end, you get there, and you learn what works for you both. Firstly, remember you are there to support your parent or loved one– start by asking exactly what they need help with, and don’t take over. Let them do anything they feel they can do for themselves. If your loved one wants t use the shower and just wants help with setting things out, then just do what they ask and then let them get on with it. You dampen the hair by spraying small amounts of water from the spray bottle, and shampoo using only a tiny amount of shampoo.There may be a number of reasons why your elderly loved ones may not be washing their hair, here are a few –