Hairstylists can help elderly in need.

• Position: Health Services

Hairstylists may have a unique opportunity to steer their elderly clients to needed health services, according to a study conducted by Ohio State University, Columbus. More than 80% of stylists surveyed indicate that older clients often or always share their problems during appointments. "Hair stylists are in a great position to notice when their older clients are starling to suffer from depression, dementia, or self-neglect," maintains Keith Anderson, assistant professor of social work.

"While not expecting too much beyond the scope of their jobs, we may be able to help stylists direct elderly people in trouble to community services."

Anderson explains that he decided to do the study after reading sometimes-joking references in the popular press to "salon therapy," in which clients discuss their relationship, family, and health problems with their stylists, who act as sympathetic ears and sometimes as pseudo-therapists. "I wondered if stylists really did have these close relationships with their clients and, if they did, I thought there might be opportunities to use these relationships to help older adults" The study included stylists who reported that, on average, about one-third of their clients were 60 or older. About 85%...