Hair washing in wheelchair

pmlindyloo

Help!

Yesterday, for the first time I managed to persuade Mum to leave her bed in the nursing home, be hoisted into a wheelchair and go upstairs to the hairdressers. (Before that had been washing it in her bed - what a palaver.

Anyway, to cut to the point. The sink in the room was too low and the wheelchair wouldn't fit under. We managed to improvise but was not the best experience.

So, have found this:

http://www.completecareshop.co.uk/disability-elderly-aid/1110/hair_washing_tray_comfort_cape.html

Has anyone used this - does it work? or can someone suggest anything else (perhaps less expensive!)

Dunroamin

Many people on the COPD forum I use swear by these.

http://www.norinse.co.uk/No-Rinse-Shampoo-Caps-Dry-No-Rinse

Gleek

I have no experience so cannot give reviews on how they are - but if you want to try one a fair bit cheaper to see if it does actually work, Amazon have a few -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dbeauty&field-keywords=hair%20washing%20tray%20


Failing that, perhaps talk to OT to see if they have any suggestions?

olias

I find it terrible that a nursing home of all places does not have the facilities to accommodate the hairdressing needs of someone in a wheelchair! Shocking. I'm afraid I would be taking it up with the manager.

Olias

pmlindyloo

olias wrote: »

I find it terrible that a nursing home of all places does not have the facilities to accommodate the hairdressing needs of someone in a wheelchair! Shocking. I'm afraid I would be taking it up with the manager.

Olias

Absolutely agree!

It's a BUPA home and since this was the first time we'd used the hairdresser I had no idea that it was a problem.

When I got back yesterday I was ready to write to BUPA and express my concern but I first wanted to suggest a way round the problem.

How do they manage in other nursing homes? My first thought was a sink that moved up and down! Is there such a thing? Haven't investigated that. If there is such a thing then I expect it would be expensive.

I am going to try the cap idea in case Mum is feeling too poorly to get out of bed and then print off some examples and speak to the hairdressers.

Hate suggesting/buying something that doesn't do the job properly so wanted some 'reviews' as it were.

Thanks for all suggestions so far - very grateful.

olias

If you google wheelchair hair washing and click on 'images' there are all sorts of contraptions. the seem to predominantly be a sort of tray that fits around the back of the neck and runs back down into the sink.

The homes OT should have all the catalogues with this stuff in though, shouldn't they?

Olias

Ettenna

The shampoo caps are used in hospital occasionally but they are not good for long term use. The hair doesn't get clean properly.

Washing the hair in bed is a palaver. We use a large inflatable square bowl with a tap in the bottom.

Errata

Ask the Home to provide your mother with a wheelchair which can be used when she needs to access the basin(s). In your shoes I'd also be talking to them about respect, dignity, access for disabled persons, and mentioning the Care Quality Commision! grrrrrr.

Torry_Quine

olias wrote: »

I find it terrible that a nursing home of all places does not have the facilities to accommodate the hairdressing needs of someone in a wheelchair! Shocking. I'm afraid I would be taking it up with the manager.

Olias

I totally agree. My great-aunt had her hair washed and set at the hairdresser in the home every fortnight for the years she was there. It never crossed my mind that sitting in a wheelchair would be insurmountable! :eek: