Bringing Dignity Through Design
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A clean shave is something many of us don’t think about. But for the nearly 44 million Americans with disabilities and their caregivers, shaving can seem like an insurmountable task. The ability to have a clean shave can provide a person with disabilities the basic sense of dignity, however, most razors are designed to be held by the person being shaved rather than a caregiver.
Fortunately, there is a new razor available with a purposeful, people-driven design – the Gillette Treo. This razor is the first of its kind because it is designed to use on someone else, giving caregivers an easier way to provide a clean shave to those they care for. It is designed for adults who care for aging parents, but can be used by anyone at any age.
In a recent interview with the Washington Post, Matt Hodgson, a design engineer at Proctor and Gamble (P&G), makers of Gillette, said: “We started seeing it all over social media — men posting about washing, grooming and shaving their fathers. It’s a very difficult and emotional thing to do.”
P&G tested and perfected the design of the razor by providing thousands of samples to professional caregivers and those in their care beginning in 2017. Using the feedback from those who were provided samples, scientists and researchers at P&G collected conducted extensive research to refine the design of the final product. Product designers hoped to infuse empathy and practical solutions in the design so that the elderly and disabled could feel a sense of dignity.
“We’re specialists in developing razors and yet all the products we could find were for shaving yourself,” Hodgson said. “When you turn the razor outward, it doesn’t work as well anymore. It was clear we needed to create something completely new.”
The final design features shave gel that dispenses from the handle and can be used with less water than a traditional razor, making it easier to shave a man who is bedridden or unable to sit or stand near a sink. The razor is also designed to be held like a paintbrush, which promises to make it easier for caregivers to handle, and it is designed to be used on thinner skin so that dangerous cuts can be prevented.
The Treo razor has been named one of Time’s Best Inventions and has been praised by national media. The razor is now available and is being used in assisted living facilities across the world.
To learn more about the Treo, visit Gillette.com.
Images credit to Gillette.com[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row]