Cherry Hill Manor, a Life Care Centers of America continuing care retirement community in Johnston, RI, and The Boston Home, a Massachusetts long-term care facility for adults with advanced neurologic diseases such as Parkinson’s, will be among the U.S. residential care settings pilot-testing Gillette’s new Treo assisted shaving razor, McKnight’s Senior Living has learned.
A facility in the United Kingdom will be involved in the study as well, a Procter & Gamble representative said. The company announced the three-month trial on Wednesday.
The razor is designed to offer a more comfortable shaving experience for those not able to shave themselves.
From feedback based on the thousands of institutional and at-home shaving experiences that occur during the pilot — consumers can request a trial razor and provide feedback online, too — Gillette’s scientists and researchers plan to refine the product.
The American Society of Aging is partnering in the project.
“When we spoke with our partners like ASA, we learned that the primary goal of family members and professional caregivers alike is to help maintain a sense of normalcy and to support lost functions, like the ability to shave oneself,” Melissa Monich, vice president of research and development, global grooming, at P&G, said in a statement. “We were struck by how important these day-to-day activities are in supporting the dignity, pride and morale of those who need assistance. This made us even more compelled to use our expertise to develop a more comfortable and safer experience, and that is what continues to inspire us on this Treo journey.”
Gillette designers visited care facilities to see how an assisted shaving experience compares with a traditional approach.
“Very quickly, we noticed big differences and big difficulties,” said Matthew Hodgson, Treo’s lead designer at Gillette. “For example, we realized the ergonomics of the handle and direction of the blade completely change when turned to shave another person, and thus a complete redesign would need to be engineered.”
The Treo has a blade designed to make the shave safe and help prevent clogging; a handle that operates like a paintbrush, with a divot for control and comfort for caregivers and those being cared for; and shave gel, built into the handle, to hydrate the hair and lubricate the skin.
The company’s “Handle with Care” video about the product (below) won seven Cannes Lions awards.
