Mom is beginning to be very sensitive to sensory related things like cold, wet hair etc. Any suggestions?
We are struggling to get Mom to wash her hair. She says she washed it, yet clearly she's not when she showers. The caregivers on her floor tell me that they try different things, but she's not one that they can boss around or force. (I know this too)
She's also refusing to get her hair cut at the on-site salon, but the other day she let her Tues/Thurs caregiver who takes her on outings wash her hair in the salon. I have no idea how she convinced her to do it, but that was also the afternoon Mom spam called me almost 30 times in two hours. So know we know she had an intense reaction to having her hair washed. Don't know if it was the water, or she was cold, or what exactly because she complained about everything under the sun EXCEPT her hair being washed.
Saturday I took her to the gym, and she didn't put her coat on when we left the building, and she started to get angry at me. I figured she was cold, but couldn't make the connection, so she just got angry in general.
I have taken her to my hair dresser a few times, I'm thinking I am going to have to start doing it on a regular basis. I just hope she doesn't freak out, now that her disease is progressing and her agitation is worse. She wears a short hair style, so this could prove to be really challenging.
Anyone have any tips or pointers on something that worked for them? Either washing the hair and/or getting it cut too?
Thanks, you guys are amazingly supportive!!!
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a. She's never used it before in her life, so she's not going to pick it up on her own and use it unless someone suggests it/directs her how to use it. Every. Single. Time.
b. She doesn't think her hair is dirty to begin with, she thinks she's washing it.
What if you just let her hair grow long, and tied it back in a pony tail? Mom could decide if she liked it that way or wanted it cut.
Try to meet the basic needs with minimum fuss. That sometimes involves changing our standards.
Sensory perception does change with dementia. There were times when a light touch had my husband screaming in pain. That was not consistent, though, and he loved having a massage.