Mom is in AL with mild dementia. She refuses to allow staff to help wash her hair while in the shower and says she prefers to do it herself in her tiny kitchenette sink. However, since it is becoming more difficult for her to do, she is putting it off longer. I have told her so many times, please let them help you in the shower Mom..you can put a washcloth or small towel over your face (she hates thought of water over face). I have asked different staff members to make this happen but nothing. Mom complains all the time that her hair looks bad and asks me to get her into the salon more often. Why would I pay extra for salon washing when she could have them help her in her own shower?
Any tips?? By the way, this discussion has gone on a hundred times since she moved there last year!! Aarrrgghhh!!!! 😝😄
If she can afford it, I might just pay extra for her to have it done in the salon sink. Her comfort and peace of mind is worth the extra money, imo.
You can also check out Dry Spray Shampoo to help freshen her hair. I use it as a root boost. They've come a long way and are much better now. Pantene has a great one.
Eventually, as she progresses, she may change her acceptance of getting shampooed in the shower. I'd wait on that. And if she complains that her hair looks bad, just tell her that it looks great.
Today I ordered the face shield that was suggested earlier by a helpful person here. We will try that.
You said, "Why would I pay extra for salon washing when she could have them help her in her own shower?" This sounds like a logic issue, not necessarily an economy issue. It is not logical to pay for something you can get free.
And the majority of answers said, in effect, don't worry that it isn't logical. Just do it.
If in the original post you had said instead, "She goes to the in-house salon every six weeks, but that is all she can afford," I think you would have gotten a whole different set of answers. Mine would have been different, I know that.
I hope the visor thing helps a lot. That was a good, practical answer.
Keep posting here. Give us another chance.
I caregive both my folks at home, and for many reasons they both are unable to wash their hair. (Rarely my mom will do hers in a sink but physical limitations are making it quite difficult.) Last month I purchased an inflatable shampoo basin, so now once a week before I get them out of their beds in the morning, I set up the basin in each bed (and drain bucket beside each bed), and as they lay there, they get a "real" hair cleaning with warm "running" (from a pitcher) water. I make it like a little spa time.
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