When you are a senior or a person with disabilities and have limited mobility in St. John’s, obtaining access to services a lot of us take for granted can be a frustrating experience.
That is why barber Debbie Lucas-McKay is going to be offering her services to St. John’s residents who cannot leave their homes. Instead, she will come to them.
“I think there are many people in our city who are not comfortable travelling to a public business, and then there are others who don’t have the physical ability to travel for the basic necessity of a haircut,” she said.
Those are the people she wants to accommodate with her mobile barber service.
In 2017, Stats Canada’s Canadian Survey on Disabilities found that of people with disabilities aged 15 and older who considered themselves housebound, 17.8% said it was due to transportation. Of those with physical abilities, 44.9% required at least one type of aide or assistive device within their home.
While there are improved transportation systems in the city, such as GoBus, which offers non-emergency transportation services, organizations such as Empower, which provides resources and support for people with disabilities, including advocacy, peer support and not-for-profits such as Connections For Seniors, which offers acute counselling support, nursing services, community outreach and transportation, home care agencies say its part of their self-care options, but there is no detail. Essentially, barber services fall into a gray area.
What's the value of having a haircut? Does it boost self-esteem and confidence? Does self-care make a person feel valued and pampered, or does it provide a sense of renewal and a fresh start, positively impacting mental well-being?
The benefit of a mobile barber is that it provides peace of mind. It offers safety, reducing the risk of falls or injuries when travelling to and from a barbershop. It’s convenient because it saves time and effort for the individual and their caregivers. Anyone willing to offer their experience to assist a client's unique challenges requires empathy, patience, and understanding.
She says her mobile barber service will adhere to many of those values for the city's less mobile residents.
“I feel many men struggle to get a proper haircut because of mobility issues, and it’s important to offer it. I’m no stranger to going into a home to cut our regular customers when they no longer can come to me.”
The independent side venture is not affiliated with her current barber job. It is also important to point out that there is a difference between barbers and hairdressers, which people sometimes surprisingly confuse.
A barber typically specializes in cutting men's hair, styling, and beard grooming. Barbers are skilled in using clippers and razors for precise cuts and shaves. They also often work in a more traditional, masculine environment like a barber shop. On the other hand, Hairdressers offer a more comprehensive range of services, including haircuts, colouring, styling, and treatments for all genders. Hairdressers are trained in various techniques and often work in a salon environment.
Lucas-McKay said she would not turn down a request for a women’s short, old-fashioned trim.
She is available on Sunday and Monday evenings if anyone wants to know more about her barber services. She is available by text at 709-351-1321, by Facebook messenger @ Debbie Lucas McKay or by email @ deb34sullivan@live.ca
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