She lives in a 2 story home in Seattle/Everett, WA area and there is only a half bath on first floor. She has been sleeping on couch since she got out of hospital and can’t make it upstairs to the shower. She has not washed her hair in a month. I want to help her but I live 1,200 miles away! Her husband and son are taking care of her.
However, unless her husband and son have no arms, I don't understand why they can't shampoo her hair. Good grief.
Home health can wash her hair and help with hygiene. So she expects you to travel that far to help her? Maybe she isn’t asking for help?
If this is a permanent issue she will need a permanent solution. Like a stair lift or even a change in home?
However, maybe this is a small fracture, expected to heal? Maybe she is wearing a neck brace for several weeks.
Can she stand? Is there a local friend with a large shower? Maybe room for a shower chair (for added safety). Or a local swimming pool with accessible showers?
If unable to stand, the hair can be washed laying down. It's time consuming but can be done in bed. Hair wet, shampooed up then a few rinses while laying the head on a few towels.
If her family are not up for that, yes, hiring a CNA seems a good solution.
PS Dare I ask about the toileting issue?
I would also say that sleeping on a couch indefinitely is not good. Your BIL needs to speak to her doctor about some "in home" help. She could get a hospital bed. Maybe an area of the house can be made up as a bedroom. Maybe get her upstairs and thats where she stays. If this will be a permanent problem, they need to sell and move.
I looked up on Google for traveling hair stylists in the Everett area. Here's Google's response:
Spectrum Mobile Hair:
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Provides professional cutting and styling services in the home for individuals with special needs, seniors, and those who find it difficult to travel to a traditional salon, according to their website.
Home Health Haircuts:
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Offers in-home haircuts specifically for the elderly, home-bound individuals, and those with mobility challenges, as mentioned on their website.
Senior Salons:
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Specializes in providing salon services within senior living communities in the Greater Seattle area, offering a range of hair and nail services, according to their website.
A-Traveling Hair Service:
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Offers a variety of hair services, including cuts, blowouts, coloring, and more, with stylists trained to work with the elderly, ill, and incapacitated.
Will she continue to recover and be able to navigate stairs? Or is this a permanent disability?
If this is temporary:
The doctor should order a Hospital bed and any other equipment that is needed so that your sister is SAFE being cared for and living at home. Sleeping on a sofa is not safe, not supportive.
If this is a permanent disability:
I hate to say it but either renovating their current home so that it is accessible for her now and later
or
Looking for another home that has either been renovated so it is accessible or has been built accessible or can be renovated more easily than their current home.
there are dry shampoos (much better than the ones I recall for many years ado)
there are disposable washing "cloths" that are no rinse and can be used on the hair.
Hiring a caregiver that would come in a few days a week to give her a shower. If she is sleeping on the couch I would imagine with the help of a trained CNA she would safely manage the stairs for a wonderful shower.
Also, when my mom was with me, I read to put water in a spray bottle
to wet the hair. Use another spray bottle with water and shampoo.
Then, use just the bottle with water to rinse. Also, a wet washcloth can to used to rinse. Like what you would do for a baby.
My mom passed before I could try it.
Your sister should not be sleeping on a couch. That is unacceptable. She must have a hospital bed that can be raised and lowered and that has side rails. This is the only way a person can safely be given a bedbath and have their hair washed. Get her a hospital bed. Rent one. I am shocked that she was discharged from rehab or a hospital to home without any measures taken to make her home safe.
When she has a hospital bed, her hair can be washed with regular shampoo and here's how.
1) On a drawsheet, pull the person as high up in the bed as possible so the end of the mattress is where their neck is. Then raise the foot of the bed to the highest position comfortable so they don't slide down.
2) Set up a table with containers of warm water next to the bed.
3) I always used a large outdoor cooler to catch the water. Position it right at the end.
4) Then shampoo the hair as you would any person. Then rinse. After you're done pull the cooler into the kitchen and empty it.
NO-RINSE body-hair wash is available so she doesn't need to get out of bed.
Caps sold via Amazon that you place on your head to wash hair.
Depending on some salons they may have a person willing to come out to the home to do hair - for a fee. When my daddy was ill and could not get out of the bed I called the salon and they came out and cut his hair - I paid the regular fee and tipped her a lot because she had to bring her portable salon items. It was worth it!
A medical bed is a good idea! I didn't even think of that!
Yes! They can have a medical supply company deliver it, set it up on the first floor of the house, then pick up when no longer needed.
Doctor's order (prescription) will be needed for this.
So many questions!
Such as; Why can she not go up the stairs?
Why is she sleeping on the couch? I can't imagine that is a good position on one's neck.
Why are her husband and son not managing this?
Why are you trying to manage this?
Yes, there are in-home care options for helping her with bathing and hair washing. There are also caps you can buy with a shampoo in them, which are gently massaged on the head, then removed with no rinse needed.
She surely must have a friend or neighbor with an accessible shower she can use, or even a good enough friend to help her with the task.
It feels like you don't have the complete story. This doesn't sound like an unsolvable dilemma. Surely the husband can figure out a way, unless he is completely useless.
Her doctor should be contacted, ASAP. He is obviously aware of her surgery and limitations. He should write an order for her care needs and send it to her insurance company ASAP for approval. She may be qualified to go to a rehab facility (per her doctor's order to her insurance company) to heal and receive assistance with the daily help she requires until she is taught how to do it on her own, receive physical thereapy, and well enough to be discharged back home for self care.