Dressing Support

Dressing is part of our daily lives. What a person wears serves basic needs, like keeping a person warm or cool. But clothes and shoes are also a reflection of who a person is and may be part of their cultural identity. For some people, what they wear is very important to them. For other people, it might be less important.

What people like to wear, as well as how we help them get dressed, is different for each person. We need to keep in mind that just because a person has a disability or a health condition or is older, we can’t assume that they don’t care about what they wear. Instead, we need to find out what’s important to our loved one so that we can properly support them in dressing.

It helps to break down all the steps of dressing to get a good idea of how to support your loved one in a way that honors what is important to them and what they need.

Dressing Aids

Tools and adaptive devices are available that can support a person with getting clothes out of drawers or closets, putting on and taking off clothes, and putting shoes and socks on and off. Some examples:

Grabbers to get clothes from drawers and closets.
Closets and drawers that are easily reachable.
Zipper pulls for closing and opening zippers on clothes.
Long-handle buttoner or button hook for fastening buttons.
Magnetic button adaptor that converts buttons into magnetic closures.
Adaptive belts that close with one hand.
Magnetic shoe closures that take the place of shoelaces.
Slip-on shoes without laces.
Non-skid shoes that aid in fall prevention.
Dressing stick tool that can pull shoes on, pull clothes on, or pull items off.
A sock pull that can help pull socks on and off.
Long-handle shoehorn.
Jewelry helpers that help fasten jewelry.

Note: Some aids may be covered by your loved one’s insurance. Check with your loved one’s provider or insurance carrier for more information to determine coverage.

Dressing Tips

Dressing safety is important for you and the person you are supporting. Here are some ways to keep you and your loved one safe:

Help your loved one wear clothes that are weather appropriate.
Help your loved one wear clothes that fit appropriately. Ill-fitting clothes (too tight) could cause skin breakdown or difficulties with internal temperature regulation.
Consider clothes that reduce the risk of falling. For example, pants that are too long could cause tripping.
Help your loved one choose shoes that lower the risk of falling. Encourage wearing supportive shoes.
Pay attention to your body mechanics when helping someone dress so that you are not placing stress on your back, knees, shoulders, etc.
Pay attention to the body mechanics of the person you are supporting so that they are not straining themselves while dressing.
Consider other adaptive devices as part of your loved one’s clothing style. For example, attaching an aesthetically pleasing bag or décor to a walker or wheelchair bag as the cover of a catheter bag.

Knowledge Check

Take this quiz to see how you fare in key concepts regarding dressing support.