Did your elderly mother used to have a head of hair that she proudly showed off to the world? Perhaps she felt like it defined who she was. For many, hair changes a lot as we age and while men often talk about hair loss, women don’t talk as much about the changes their hair goes through. A personal care at home provider can help your mom care for her changing hair needs. Here are a few things to know about hair care for the elderly:
Why Hair Changes As We Age
A big reason why hair changes so much for women as they age has to do with the changes in their hormones. Low estrogen after menopause can lead the hair follicles thinning and hair falling out. Age causes the body to slow down cell renewal and regeneration so hair can quickly become thinner and more brittle as a person ages.
If your loved one doesn’t make changes to her hair care, she will notice that the damage caused takes longer to repair and sometimes never does get repaired.
Five Steps for Healthier Hair for Elderly Women
- Eat more protein, iron, and zinc. Low protein slows down hair growth and weakens the hair. Iron is responsible for the red blood cells being able to bring oxygen to all parts of the body, including the hair follicles. Zinc will strengthen the follicles and prevent hair loss.
- Avoid heat-based styling. Those days of using a hair dryer and a curling iron every day should be long gone. The stress these appliances cause on hair that is already weakened can lead to damage that cannot be repaired since the hair has less ability to protect itself from the heat.
- Review what your loved one uses on her hair. Shampoos, hair spray, and conditions that have been the same for decades may no longer be best for the change in her hair. Help her shop for products specifically made for older women that will provide the protection her hair needs.
- Wash less. Hot water strips away the natural oils that hydrate the hair. When she does wash her hair, she should opt for warm or cool water, not hot.
- Trim it more often. Ends break more easily in older hair, so your loved one may find she either needs a shorter hairstyle or have it trimmed more often to remove the damaged ends.
Personal Care at Home Can Help with Haircare
Your loved one may also be finding as she ages that taking care of her hair is harder. She might not be able to lift her arms to thoroughly wash her hair or she might find that styling it becomes too tiring. Having a personal care at home provider come to the home to help with hair styling during the week can be a great way to help your loved one look and feel great. A personal care at home provider can help with brushing out your loved one’s hair, styling it in a way that is safe for her hair and looks good, as well as washing it if your loved one needs assistance in that area.
Having hair that looks healthy again can be just what your elderly loved one needs to feel good about themselves. It’s more than just having beautiful hair, it’s about boosting her self-image and confidence.
If you or an aging loved one is considering personal care at home in Naperville, IL, please contact the caring staff at Suburban Home Care today at (630) 964-9000.
There are several great reasons why Suburban Home Care® should be your choice for quality homecare. All of our Certified Nursing Assistants and Home Health Aides are screened, trained, bonded and insured.
Every family needs to be aware that almost every Homeowner’s insurance policy specifically excludes anyone working within your home. If the person you hire becomes injured while working for you, you will become personally responsible for all of their medical bills. This has left several families very vulnerable when their caregiver injured themselves at their home.
The potential to lose everything you have worked so hard to achieve seems an unnecessary risk. Every one of Suburban Home Care®’s employees are completely covered by insurance so you and your loved ones can relax knowing that if something unforeseen happens to your caregiver, they are completely covered by insurance.
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