A hairdresser or barber who comes to the house saves your parent a hard trip and saves you an afternoon. The trouble is that a visit can go wrong in ways you will not see until later. Judge the person by what they hold, what they bring, what they promise, and what they do when your parent is tired, sore, or unsure.
Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.
Ask about the license and the insurance
Ask whether the person holds the license your state requires for the work they do, and ask for the license number. Check that number with the state board that issues it, using the board's public lookup if it has one. Ask whether they carry liability insurance that covers work inside a client's home, and ask them to send a certificate. A person who cannot answer these questions in a sentence or two is not ready to work in your parent's house.
Ask what they bring and what they need
Ask whether they bring their own towels, capes, and tools, and whether they clean their tools between clients. Ask what they need from you: a clear space, a stable chair, a nearby outlet, or a basin if they wash hair at home. If your parent uses a wheelchair or has trouble sitting upright, ask how the person handles the seat, the footrests, and any transfer. Ask whether they can wash hair with your parent reclined, and whether that changes the visit. Do not assume the answer. Ask.
Book one trial visit, not a standing time
Book a single visit first and stay in the room for at least part of it. Watch whether your parent looks calm afterward, whether the cape stayed clean, whether the person spoke to your parent or only over them, and whether the floor is clear when they leave. Then book a second visit and ask for the same person. A good first visit does not tell you whether the second one will go the same way, and consistency is the thing you are paying for.
Set the cancellation rule and the skin rule
Ask what the cancellation terms are, how much notice they need, and whether they charge when a visit is missed for a reason on your side. Ask them to call you before the visit if they plan to change the time. Then state the rule you want in plain words: if they see a sore, a rash, a bruise, a cut, or new swelling on your parent's scalp, neck, or hands, they stop, they tell you the same day, and they do not put anything on the skin. If something looks wrong to you, call your parent's doctor. A stylist does not diagnose, and you should not expect them to.
Compare two or three before you choose
Ask every candidate the same questions, write the answers side by side, and choose the one whose answers you can check. A person who cannot show a license or a certificate is a risk in your parent's home, no matter how pleasant the phone call was. The person who answers every question clearly, shows you the paperwork, and agrees to a trial visit is usually the better choice, even if the first conversation was the least friendly.