Advice for getting dressed

Living independently often means maintaining the ability to dress yourself. However, age-related changes like reduced dexterity, limited mobility, and vision problems can make getting dressed a frustrating and challenging task.

Common scenarios and concerns	Lifestyle and equipment options to help you
Reduced dexterity or grip strength: Difficulty manipulating buttons, zippers, or shoelaces. This can lead to frustration, dependence on others, and the potential for skin tears.	Dressing sticks: Extend your reach for zipping, buttoning, and putting on socks and shoes. Button hooks: Assist with manipulating buttons. Elastic shoelaces or slip-on shoes: Eliminate the need for tying laces.
Limited mobility: Difficulty bending or reaching lower body areas. This can lead to increased reliance on others and potential falls.	Long-handled shoe horns: Reach your feet without bending over. Sock donners and doffers: Assist with putting on and taking off socks. Dressing benches: Provide a sturdy seat with armrests for easier dressing.
Vision problems: Difficulty seeing clothing details or differentiating colours. This can lead to frustration and potential wardrobe malfunctions.	High-contrast clothing: Choose clothing with bold colours and contrasting patterns for easier visibility. Clothing labels with large print: Identify garments by touch with larger, raised labels.

Common scenarios and concerns

Lifestyle and equipment options to help you

Reduced dexterity or grip strength: Difficulty manipulating buttons, zippers, or shoelaces.

This can lead to frustration, dependence on others, and the potential for skin tears.

Dressing sticks: Extend your reach for zipping, buttoning, and putting on socks and shoes.

Button hooks: Assist with manipulating buttons.

Elastic shoelaces or slip-on shoes: Eliminate the need for tying laces.

Limited mobility: Difficulty bending or reaching lower body areas.

This can lead to increased reliance on others and potential falls.

Long-handled shoe horns: Reach your feet without bending over.

Sock donners and doffers: Assist with putting on and taking off socks.

Dressing benches: Provide a sturdy seat with armrests for easier dressing.

Vision problems: Difficulty seeing clothing details or differentiating colours.

This can lead to frustration and potential wardrobe malfunctions.

High-contrast clothing: Choose clothing with bold colours and contrasting patterns for easier visibility.

Clothing labels with large print: Identify garments by touch with larger, raised labels.

Common challenges faced when getting dressed

Here are some common issues that can hinder your ability to dress independently:

Reduced dexterity or grip strength: Difficulty manipulating buttons, zippers, and shoelaces can become increasingly frustrating with weaker hands.
Limited mobility: Bending over to put on socks or reaching for lower body garments can become difficult or pose a fall risk.
Vision problems: Difficulty seeing clothing details or differentiating colours can lead to frustration and mismatched outfits.

Dressing aids for improved independence

These dressing aids can significantly simplify the process of getting dressed and promote your self-sufficiency:

Reaching aids

Dressing sticks: These extendable tools with hooks or grippers allow you to reach for items like zippers, buttons, or socks without bending over.
Long-handled shoe horns: These eliminate the need to bend down to put on your shoes, reducing strain and fall risks.

Fastener aids

Button hooks: These simple tools help you loop buttons through buttonholes with minimal hand and finger strength needed.
Zipper pulls: These large, easy-to-grip zipper pulls make zipping up garments much easier, especially for those with limited dexterity.
Elastic shoelaces or slip-on shoes: Eliminate the need for tying laces, making putting on and taking off shoes a breeze.

Lower body dressing aids

Sock donners and doffers: These ingenious tools assist you with putting on and taking off socks and stockings effortlessly, especially if bending over is difficult.
Dressing benches: Provide a sturdy seat with armrests for support while dressing. Some models offer a raised seat for easier standing after dressing.

Choosing the right dressing aid

When selecting dressing aids, consider your specific needs and limitations. Here are some additional tips:

Lightweight and easy to use: Opt for aids that are comfortable to hold and don't require excessive strength to operate.
Durable and well-made: Choose dressing aids made from quality materials that will last for a long time.
Trial and error: Experiment with different types of dressing aids to find the ones that work best for you.
Simplify your wardrobe: Choose clothing with easy-to-manoeuvre fastenings like zippers or velcro closures. Loose-fitting garments are easier to put on and take off.
Organise your closet: Arrange your clothes so that frequently worn items are easily accessible. Consider hanging clothes at eye level for better visibility.
Dress in stages: Sit down while putting on socks, shoes, and lower body garments to minimise strain and prevent falls.
Ask for help when needed: Don't hesitate to seek assistance from a family member, friend, or carer if needed.

Vision aids for getting dressed

If vision problems make getting dressed challenging, consider these tips:

High-contrast clothing: Choose clothing with bold colours and contrasting patterns that are easier to see.
Clothing labels with large print: Invest in clothing with larger, raised labels you can identify by touch.
Good lighting: Ensure your dressing area has good lighting to improve visibility when getting dressed.

Where to buy equipment to help you get dressed

Plymouth City Council, NHS Devon, and Livewell Southwest have jointly commissioned NRS Healthcare to deliver the Safe+Well service, and they have over 2,500 daily living aids that you can purchase by mail order, telephone, or online.

View the Plymouth Safe+Well website

NRS has a dedicated phone line with a trained team of specialists who can answer any questions you might have. Just call 0345 6461860.

Other places to buy equipment from:

Free assessment tool: Select the area of difficulty that is relevant to you. You will then be asked a few questions to guide you towards helpful daily living aids.
Free telephone advice line: Complete the online form, and we will contact you to arrange a convenient time to call.