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Caregivers: Tips for Dressing Loved Ones

One very common caregiving task is helping someone get dressed. This is a personal activity and it can be stressful to both the caregiver and his or her loved one. We hope some of the tips below can help make the process easier and less stressful.
• Be aware of your loved one’s feelings about the process. As stated before, getting someone dressed is a personal thing. If they don’t feel comfortable about some things, looks for ways to address them.
• If they’re capable of putting on some items of clothing, let them. Most people like to be as independent as possible so do encourage them to do what they can while they can.
• Invest in adaptive clothing. Adaptive clothing is great as it can adjust to the different needs of a loved one. For example, elastic waistband pants can adjust to weight fluctuations. There are also shoes that can be adjusted to accommodate swollen feet.
• Be careful with footwear. Proper footwear is valuable as ill-fitting shoes and socks can lead to falls. Make sure shoes are the right size and that socks are of the non-slip variety.
• Keep things simple. For some seniors, too many clothing options can lead to confusion. Cut down on clutter by limiting the number of possible outfit choices. Also remove any unneeded clothing items.
Dressing a loved one can sometimes be a challenge. The next time you have trouble with it, try using some of these tips. Also, remember that we are here to help. Our caregivers are trained to help with dressing assistance.

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