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Never heard of it happening, and i work in a dementia unit.
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Never heard of this. Like said, older women have lost hair. But the catheter thing sounds good but I would ask.
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I understand why they do it. I would think a close trim would be easier and preferred to a shave, to prevent any skin irritation. I've heard others say their elders don't have hair in that area but my 103 yo grandmother still did have her hair there. To help with keeping clean and preventing UTIs, I trimmed her hair. I did it instinctively, not knowing it was a practice, because I could see how sitting in urine or feces would be more easily cleaned up if the area doesn't have hair. I've never heard of the practice in a care facility, but I think it's a worthwhile practice.
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I just have to share this - it's a story I've shared before about my mom, but MsMadge just put me in mind of it.

Mom and I were watching TV one night here at home, and there was a commercial on for a new tv show, where a 40-something woman masquerades as a 20-something woman in order to get a particular job. She makes friends with her young co-workers, never letting on how old she is. In one of the commercials, the 40-something is with two of the 20-something co-workers at the gym in the locker room, and they're all getting undressed to shower or change. The two younger women drop their undies, and the older one does the same - to gasps of horror from the younger ones.
20-Something #1: "OMG! Don't you WAX?!?!"
20-Something #2: "OMG - it looks like my MOTHER'S....."

Mom looks at me and says, "I think mine's gone BALD!"

I had never, ever heard Mom make reference to body parts like that....I just about fell off my chair laughing.

Anyway, not trying to stray from the topic, just trying to bring a smile to your face. I hope you get to the bottom of the shaving. Do come back and let us know what you find out.
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And, any grow back typically itches like mad with many ingrown hairs.

Not that I'd know personally. But this is what a friend told me.
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I have never heard of this and would be outraged if done without permission- sharing razors and all could lead to infection plus elderly women tend to not have much hair down there anyway
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I've never heard of this practice. I would definitely ask the staff if this is normal and to see the written policy explaining why it's done.
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Hmmm. I have never hear of that. If anyone had attempted to shave my moms lady garden - they likely would have lost an arm.

That said - I have trimmed my sons...umm - area- in the past. It was when he either was experiencing a bout of diarrhea or when he was in school still and staff were not good at getting him to the bathroom on time. Cleaning dried on, crusty poop is a miserable experience for everyone involved - and can be painful for the person if there's a lot of tugging on the hair.

So while I've never heard of a place dealing with older folks doing it - it does make some sense to me.
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