Many older adults have limited mobility due to injuries, balance disorders, and chronic diseases like arthritis, which make everyday activities like getting dressed more challenging. For family members providing elderly care, it's important to find ways to make daily living easier for your loved one. Here are a few tips to ease the process of dressing and undressing every day.

A Guide to Helping Your Loved One Get Dressed

1. Choose Simple Clothes

Take some time to go through your loved one’s wardrobe with them and consider how accessible their clothing is. Button-up shirts and jackets with zippers are easier for seniors to handle than pullover shirts, and loose-fitting pants with some stretch will be more convenient than dress pants or slacks. Their closet should be filled with comfortable clothes that are easy to put on and take off. Your loved one might hesitate to get rid of clothes, especially pieces that may be old favorites or have memories attached to them, so be sure to ask permission and offer to get them new clothes before donating or throwing anything out. 

2. Use Dressing Tools

There are many dressing aids available that are designed to help individuals with limited mobility and disabilities. Think about what your elderly loved one has the most trouble with when dressing and undressing. They may benefit from tools like shoehorns, sock aids, dressing sticks, button hooks, or zipper pulls. With the right device, the senior in your life could regain a measure of their independence and feel more comfortable getting dressed on their own.

3. Give Them Plenty of Time

Patience is a fundamental aspect of elderly care. Since health issues can slow them down, seniors should have adequate time for daily tasks. Rushing through activities that require movement could increase the risk of mistakes or injuries. If you take care of your loved one’s schedule, give them extra room in the mornings and before bed to get ready. The process should be calm, relaxed, and free of pressure. Offer help if your loved one wants assistance, and try to step in if an article was put on wrong or they seem frustrated.

If your loved one needs increasingly more assistance with daily tasks, the compassionate team at Priority One Healthcare Services offers professional elderly care that will make their life easier. Since 2011, this home health care agency has been providing reliable senior services tailored to the needs of families throughout St. Louis, MO. From dressing and meal preparation to mobility assistance and healthcare services, you can rest assured that your loved one is safe and comfortable at home. To discuss your loved one’s needs, call (314) 776-9066. Visit their website for more information about their home health care services.