A Dublin man has launched a special mobile barbershop for people with dementia and mobility issues.
Joe Hughes, owner of Dublin’s Dementia Friendly Barber, said the idea came to him after working as a carer and events coordinator in nursing homes for over a decade.
The Finglas man said: “While I was working in nursing homes one of the things I’d do as an activities coordinator was I would bring the men up for haircuts and shave once a week.
“I’ve seen the benefit of it - the social inclusion, and the quality of personal care they were receiving, how much they enjoyed it. It took them back to days when they were younger and they could go out to the barbershops.”
Hughes, 47, goes to nursing homes, hospitals, care centres, and people’s homes offering haircuts and shaves as well as manicures and shoe shine services.
He added: “I wouldn’t do it for men that can get up and go to the barbers themselves. I bring the service to the people who need it but can’t get out to the barber.
“Not just people with dementia, people with autism, people with mobility issues and cognitive impairments.”
While he launched Dublin’s Dementia Friendly Barber just a couple of weeks ago, Hughes has been providing his services in nursing homes for a year or two.
In fact the service has exploded in popularity internationally with one person offering to pay him to come all the way to Australia.
He said: “One of the highlights was the girl from Australia who said she’d pay me from Australia to go over to her father and give him a haircut and a shave and tidy him up a little bit, make him look well, and make him feel the way he used to feel.”
Hughes said that his clients’ comfort is his biggest priority. He said: “When people have dementia it doesn’t mean they stop living.
“I’ll find out that gentleman’s name, what he worked as, and what music he likes. So straight away I’ll go and introduce myself. And I strike up a conversation while listening to his favourite music.
“At all times, they will be shown dignity and respect.”
You can find out more about his services here or email him at joe.dementiafriendlybarber@yahoo.com.
