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Wardrobe · 30 min

Clothes that are easy to get into

Front openings, soft waistbands, bigger buttons, shoes without laces: small changes that make dressing easier for stiff or tired hands.

30 minutesFrom the library, free to readFour steps
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Getting dressed can become hard: arthritis, a stroke, weakness after illness, memory loss, or simply tiredness. Struggling with tiny buttons and tight sleeves every morning wears people down. Choosing clothes that are easier to get into can bring back independence, and still look like you.

The steps

Four small steps,in your own time.

  1. Watch, or think about, which parts of dressing are hardest: small buttons, zips at the back, pulling things over the head, socks, laces.

  2. Go through the wardrobe and move the easiest clothes to the front: front-opening tops, soft elasticated waists, wide necks and sleeves, larger buttons, slip-on shoes.

  3. For favourite clothes, look at small changes: a zip pull on a fastener, a button replaced with a larger one, laces swapped for elastic laces.

  4. Lay clothes out in the order they go on. Sit down to dress, starting with the weaker or stiffer side.

The reason

Why it helps

Dressing yourself is a big part of independence and dignity. Clothes that work with the body as it is now can make mornings shorter and less tiring. Many easier clothes look exactly like any other clothes, so you do not need to give up your style.

A gentle variation

If changing clothes is not possible, try dressing aids such as a button hook, a long-handled shoe horn or a sock aid. An occupational therapist can suggest the right ones.

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WE · TRIBE

Try itwith someone.

If you help someone dress, let them choose the clothes and do as much as they can, even if it takes longer. Offer two outfits to choose between rather than a whole wardrobe.

Make it a plan in HIVELIVE, with WE

Try it today

Today, move the clothes that are easiest to put on to the front of the wardrobe, and note one item to adapt.

Add it to your day

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