Follow
Share

First, I'm sorry if this is vulgar, but it seems that my mom's unit shaves the residents' pubic hair. I'm not bothered by this, I actually think it's cleaner, but no one ever mentioned that it happens and I'm wondering if this is a common practice at other nursing homes.


In case it matters, my mom is in a long term dementia unit where most residents wear diapers. Thanks.

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Find Care & Housing
so, this was asked 9-10 days ago and nothing more from the person so we dont know what the situation was .... or if it was.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

I have never heard of this and I think it is horrible. There is absolutely no reason someone cannot be kept clean, just as you don't need to shave your head in order to have a clean scalp. Anyone incontinent should never be left long enough for it to be "dried on", that is simply bad care. I have worked as bedside RN for 45 years, including a stint as Director of Nursing in a NH. This simply should not be done.
Helpful Answer (5)
Report

It's a big trend these days - has been for a while.

Remember the good ole days when fashion - no matter how uncomfortable- was more important to you than comfort? 

God bless granny panties and flat shoes!
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

I shaved my pubic area as a teenager, and I can tell you, when it grows back, it sure does itch and drive you crazy. Leave it alone; you're bound to lose it when you're a senior or most of it
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

In the 30 plus years that I have worked in eldercare; i.e. nursing homes, assisted living facilities and homecare, I have NEVER heard of such a thing being done!
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

When I started bathing my Mom, I noticed that she had gone bald there and I guarantee no shaving is involved. As a joke said, "as I grow older, I don't seem to grow as much hair on my legs and underarms; it's too busy growing on my chin and in my nose and ears." Maybe this is similar.
Helpful Answer (5)
Report

When you have a loved one in the nursing home, bedridden or not, you must do a head to toe quick assessment . Follow your nose. Sore private parts can be prevented.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Thank you, Colene. Rainman is a sweet, gentle, loving young man who is continually teaching me to try to be the best version of myself. Most days I think I'm the lucky one.
Helpful Answer (5)
Report

I would have been appalled if someone wielded a razor and used it on my mother's genitalia! Who gives this particular nursing home such authority? Good grief!
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Thanks, Rainmom. First of all, I am filled with compassion for your situation. I am old enough now that I have learned to listen to new information before forming opinions; in my mind I start almost every sentence with "I could be wrong, but ....." and end it with "but I am willing to learn." My mom's main problem was constipation so this other reality was just not in my world, and in her case, shaving would have not been a good solution, especially given her keen sense of modesty. Good luck to you & your son. He is lucky to have you.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

IF there is a legitimate policy of the facility (I personally don't see why this would be necessary with regular bathing) at a minimum I would request to be present. Trust no one, sorry but better off safe.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

Oh my goodness, Colene! I have a sevearly disabled adult son. Rainman is about 6'1" and 180lbs. Let me tell you - and my estimate is that over the course of his life I've changed his diaper/Depends over 15,000 times - there is no comparison to the cute little poops a baby makes and the full-blown diarrhea of an adult man. Not to be overly graphic- but not only has it been in the hair up front - there have been times when it's reached from his belly button to his knees. Trust me - after cleaning up a few of those, you'll do anything to make the task a little bit easier.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

I've got to say I was glad to give up diaper duty and have not had any opportunity to check mom out down below the belt since she entered the NH. I can't imagine wrestling her into bed to do a strip inspection either, some things we have to trust are being taken care of appropriately unless we have some reason to think otherwise.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

They should have notified you first . Maybe she sat in her urine or waste and they didn't know it so they had to cut her hair to clean her. Sometimes the seniors have an itch or rash so they have to examine down there and put medicine on her . All you have to do is ask without an attitude and they ' ll tell you . Inform them that you are to be notified at all times when there is something out of the ordinary has to be done to your mom. And always examine your mom when you visit. NEVER take things for granted . God bless her heart.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

My mom lived in dementia facility which gave her a seated shower every other day, I think. Regardless, I just can't envision poop spreading very often to the hairy front area - even with diapers. I am currently an expert on this as I am now changing diapers of my little grandchild. Poop tends to stay in the back - most of the time. Rarely up front where there would be hair (in the future). And urine isn't that hard to clean. Simply wash. These places are so short-staffed that I can't see this as an efficient use of their time (if it is indeed what has happened).
Just my immediate thoughts.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

I'm with rainmom. Even if there are some legitimate hygienic issues to discuss here, NOBODY should be shaving that area without fully informed consent and permission. I would be beyond outraged particularly if I had the POA/was guardian, anything.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report

Lol, Midkid! A year ago I had a radical hysterectomy- performed vaginally. When I went to the bathroom sans catheter for the first time I was very surprised to find it wasn't  just my cervix and uterus that was missing! No one had mentioned to me that I was going to be shaved as well. Good thing too, I would have been embarrassed beyond belief! They told me when I asked why I hadn't be forewarned- that woman often attempted to do it themselves prior to going into the hospital for surgery - which was something they didn't want due to risks of cuts and then infectious risk during surgery. 

But yeah - the grow back was miserable. I felt like one of my little dogs - with the nearly uncontrollable desire to scoot myself along the living room rug!
Helpful Answer (4)
Report

Thanks for the laugh, SusanA43. And for the memory, Edna317. I worked on Maternity ward summers in the 1960's.

My 95-yr-old aunt has 'gone bald' also, but I am only 1/2 bald, and incontinent. Now to decide. hee,hee.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

My wife is in Memory Care and is incontinent and she was uncomfortable and itching- the hospice nurse suggested we trim her pubic hairs as some were growing intoner vagina. Word is Trim so with the help of my daughter we have done this and that staff have helped occasionally. It helped her. Here is a web site about Pubic hair: https://www.littlethings.com/pubic-hair-facts/
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

Grandma had hers shaved in a NH--unlike most of the posters here, evidently, she had plenty of hair and it was pretty long and unhygienic for them to clean her. I didn't witness this myself, my mother told me she had asked for them to do this, as she was not continent the last few weeks of life and cleaning her was a trial.
I'm SURE they used a disposable razor and were very careful. I had 5 C-sections and was shaved with the first 3--after that they'd determined that having hair wasn't the awful infection possibility previously thought.
The itching as is it grew back was almost as painful as the C-section incision!!!!
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

My my. I wish I had a dollar for every "down there" part I have cleaned. During the course of 30+ years at the bedside it never once entered my mind to shave pubic hair .
The key is preventative maintenance. Check often and wash with soap and water and rinse thoroughly to prevent sore private parts.
The only times I have ever shaved private parts was back in the 1960's when it was hospital policy to shave the pubic hair of women in labor. I do not think that is common practice anymore.
And if some health care workers think that they cannot get a patient clean without shaving pubic hair, it shoud be clipped. Not shaved.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report

That's one reason my ex-husband went to nursing home--he refused to let our R. N. daughter shave his pubes, and he was in diapers with fecal and urinary incontinence, necessitating a big clean-up job at her 2x daily visits. I myself have almost no pubic or other body hair left at age 79, and hair on head is getting thinner too.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

The Memory Care asked my permission to trim my LO's pubic hair. It was done for hygiene reasons. She's totally incontinent.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

I'd be mad if they didn't ask for my permission. Making me think that if that's sexual abuse going on if your mother isn't coherent enough to realize what was going on. I'd be mad if they didn't ask for my permission. Making me think that if that's sexual abuse going on if your mother isn't coherent enough to realize what was going on.  If that's not the case, then your mother might lost her pubic hair like my mom did. 
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

If you have not seen your mother's nether regions for some time, it may be that her pubic hair stopped growing. Check to see if they are actually shaving. My family has full heads of hair, but with age every place else goes to bald or close to it.
Helpful Answer (6)
Report

I have never heard of this being done.
I would strongly question why it is done.
It makes no sense to me. All procedures can be done properly without shaving. (other than some surgical procedures but this would not be done in a facility)
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

Wow and nope are my responses. I can't even imagine someone doing that to anyone in a facility. The poor nurses aid has to go home and get plastered every time that has to be done.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report

I thought my mothers pubic hair had been shaved off but it turned out that it had stopped growing . I had just previously never seen her down there before... actually all her body hair stopped growing- it turns out this was natural for elderly.
Obviously if this isnt your case please disregard this answer.
Helpful Answer (6)
Report

I'd be concerned about sanitation... if they use disposable razors, there could be cuts... if they use electric razors there is no way to sanitize the razor.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

Well, I could see how this might be practical, but it does seem like an unusual thing to do. The ALF should have your local ombudsperson's phone number posted somewhere in the facility. Try calling and talking to him or her about it, if you can. Good luck!
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter