Older adults may need help washing their hair. For those with mobility issues, assistance may be required in a wheelchair or bed. What can you do to ensure that the elderly have their hair washed as often as possible and how much?
How Often Should an Elderly Wash Their Hair?
Although hair can collect dirt every day, oil is the main reason hair should be washed frequently. Your hair’s natural oil, sebum, is produced by the glands on your scalp. The oil gradually builds up on the scalp and reaches the ends of the hair. It continues to build up until it is washed.
Due to the many changes in the body as we age, our scalps don’t produce nearly as much sebum. It is also known that sebum production slows down when hair is curly or coarse. This means that there is no one washing frequency that is best for everyone.
In general, seniors may only need to wash their hair once a week. Dry shampoos are effective for seniors who don’t want to wash their hair as often as they used to.
How to wash the hair of an elderly person
It is important to know which tools are best for elderly people. You will need to have a few towels and washcloths, warm water, and a bowl for washing your hair.
It is also important to choose the right washing basin. A portable shampoo bowl is a great option for washing the hair of someone who is in a wheelchair. The portable shampoo bowl is essentially a sink bowl attached to wheels. This allows you to place the basin behind the chair. Inflatable wash basins are also useful for washing the hair of bedridden patients.
A little preparation can make it easy to wash your hair in bed. To prevent your bed from getting wet, line it with towels or bags. You can then start to wash their hair by placing a wash basin on top of the bed and gently helping the senior inside. To prevent eyes from getting splashed, you might offer a dry towel.
You should only use a small amount of shampoo to get rid of it. After several rinses, gently lift their heads from the basin. Then you can help them towel off.
Take Care of Your Hair
It’s easy to wash your scalp at home using the right pressure. It can be difficult to wash someone else’s hair, particularly if they have fragile skin. To make hurting someone’s hair less likely, it is a good idea to wear disposable gloves.
There are many assistive devices available, from portable hair washing sinks to elderly hair washing chairs, There are many simple ways to make someone’s hair more comfortable. Although these are not essential, making hair washing easier for seniors can make it more convenient in the long term.
