I jumped from the treatment section to tips. I also have to tend to all of Frank's personal needs. I find if I shave him while he's still in bed it's much easier. I go in with a hot face cloth and an electric shaver. I'm able to shave him in 5 minutes, I don't have to hold his chin up and it's earier to stretch the "turkey neck". He still brushes his teeth, I do have to take his partial plate out and get it back in. I stand there to watch, when he rinses his mouth he spits, anywhere, or he'll drag his tooth brush over the bar of soap.

Curiously, shaving is one thing Derek is still able to do himself, sitting in the w/c in front of the sink. He prefers to use a razor, though he has several electric shavers. I have to do under his neck because, as you say, he can't stretch it out and see it at the same time.

Early in Lewy, shaving took on monumental proportions in his life, maybe because it's a male ritual. We went through a lot of electric shavers, Braun, Remington and Norelco, none of which he finds satisfactory. Amazingly, he doesn't cut himself very often. He insists on applying his foam with a brush and I hadn't brought it to the SNF so I had to run home and get it [only half a mile!].

Gerry,
Thanks for the good tip. I'll pass it along.
Does the soap keep the toothbrush clean?
Robin

Derek also has a lot of ear hair. We use one of those little battery-operated nose-hair clippers for both.

Gerry -

Do you use the hot face cloth on his face for a few minutes before you shave him? Or is that for after.

That's not one of my jobs yet, so I'm curious.

He has run through the manual, disposable, & now has been using a Braun electric (which he has infomed me needs a new head).

Karen

Karen, I bought a new head for Derek's Braun and he still insists it doesn't work right. I could have bought another whole shaver for what it cost.

Karen, I put the hot cloth on before, it does seem to make the job easier. Frank has several elec. razors but my favorite is the Philips, Norelco, rotary shaver.

It's also my job to clean the shavers. I think the hot cloth helps to remove the dead skin. That's one reason I like the Norelco, I clean it daily and it can be rinsed under the faucet. Every 4-5 weeks I take it apart, clean the teeth and screen and oil it.

Thank you all for your input. I'll suggest to Bill that he try the hot wet wash cloth before he shaves. He's never been a electric shaver kind of guy so maybe he didn't know! lol!

So that's what that yellow cheesy stuff is that gets clogged in the shaver - dead skin!

Yes, I've looked at buying new head for the Braun & you're right Pat - $26! Maybe I'll just try a different brand.

As far as cleaning goes, that Norelco sounds better & better. You have to buy the cleaning solution for the Braun & that's not cheap either. I noticed it went up $2 since the last time I bought it. Suppose I could check out Amazon.com.

Karen

Derek has a Norelco with the 'floating heads' and I like it the best, too. As Gerry said, the little heads and screens can be removed and cleaned with a toothbrush and then left to dry on a paper towel and the heads dipped in a little mineral oil. I only do this about every two weeks. Sure beats the Braun cleaning cartridges. Seems like the cartridges need changing about every other week or so--I think the manufacturer really saw us coming on that one. With the money we've spent on replacement heads and all the cleaner cartridges we've bought we could have five or six good shavers.

To clean the Norelco head, take it apart, hold it in your hand, and spray with the kitchen sink sprayer. No brush or other stuff like that. Works for me. If it works for you, post a reply.

Gail