How to wash the hair of someone who has difficulty bending back?

Freiheit

Hi I'm not a hairdresser, but I was asked to help an elderly family member with their hair. She is on blood thinners and has balance issues. Doesn't feel she comfortable leaning back when the hair is being washed. What's the best way to manage this and minimise the flooding? thanks

gctest50

http://www.savers.ie/portable-wash-basin-p-4656.html

NipNip

Get a plastic deck chair, and some sort of garment to cover her dignity, which can later be thrown into the washing machine. Sit her down in the shower on her plastic chair, and Bob's your uncle! Or Tessie's your aunt.

username123

Cover her in towels, put a basin on her lap, get her to lean forward and use a jug of warm water to pour through her hair. Empty basin, shampoo, repeat above, shampoo again, repeat above, conditioner if necessary, repeat above.

If mobility allows it, get her to lean over the bath.

bnagrrl

This is going to sound a bit convoluted but bear with me!

If you have or can get a sturdy plastic deck chair that lies back, ask her to sit in that. You sit behind her with a basin in you lap and use a jug to pour the water over her hair.

Freiheit

Thanks all, appreciated, sounds kinda messy one way or another, the shower is in the bath and she's nervous about slipping anyway, deckchair and leaning back sounds like a good idea, but the spillage will be high regardless

_Whimsical_

This is a little expensive for doing everyday but have you tried no rinse shampoo? They were invented for people who are seriously ill and injured and can't use the shower or sink to wash their hair .I heard about them from someone who went on a long haul train journey around Siberia last year and she told me everyone was using them on the train and they're great, make your hair look and feel like it's had a good wash.
You apply it and then give it a good towel dry I think and then just dry as normal, no rinsing or water involved, although the shampoo itself is watery. It's in a smallish looking bottle so I'm sure any spillage or dripping won't be of the magnitude of liquid you'd get using a shower.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rinse-Waterless-Nilaqua-Shampoo-500ml/dp/B00CBDEQWM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401549245&sr=8-1&keywords=no+rinse+shampoo

http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Rinse-Waterless-Shampoo-Caps/dp/B008ATC75E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1401549470&sr=8-2&keywords=no+rinse+shampoo

dee_mc

A former housemate used to talk about washing her granny's hair in bed, using a kid's small inflatable paddling pool! Sounds mental but i can see how it would work, you could support her neck with a pillow or two and there would be no hard edges like with a basin.

lil'bug

I wash my sister in laws hair in the bathroom sink, she is in a wheelchair so I push her as close to the sink as possible I fill the sink with warm water and wet her hair, shampoo rinse and then use jugs of warm water to rinse again. she has a towel around her shoulders an another to help her grip the sink (she has MS) I find it an easy way to do do her hair

fiona-f

If she can stand, or kneel on a chair, leaning forwards over the kitchen sink works well if you have a mixer tap or a attachable shower head thing. She can grip the counter edge for stability as someone else does the shampoo. It is much more comfortable than leaning back. And with a towel about the zhoukders, she can straighten up frequently for breaks.

I read once that if predisposed to stroke, the stress on the neck from leaning back like in a regular salon sink can be a very common risk factor for bringing on a stroke.