Helping Your Elderly Loved One Dress for Success or Just Get Successfully Dressed

The last few times you’ve swung by your elderly loved one’s home to pick him up for an outing, you’ve noticed that he’s leaving the home in disheveled clothes or perhaps wearing the same pair of sweatpants each time. You know that your elderly loved one used to take pride in how he looked and what he wore, and you may be wondering why he doesn’t seem to care about what he wears anymore. Companion care at home can help.

 

Dressing Poorly Doesn’t Mean He Doesn’t Care

While your loved one may have just decided he doesn’t care what he wears anymore, there could be other reasons why you’ve noticed a drop in the quality of his personal attire. You don’t need him to wear his Sunday best each day, but clean, well-cared-for clothes that fit properly would be a big improvement.

 

Five Dressing Issues Seniors Face

1. Arthritis: Arthritis can be one of the biggest obstacles when it comes to getting dressed each day. He might find that his hands and fingers can no longer button buttons or tie shoelaces. Aching wrists can make pulling a zipper closed painful.
2. Loss of Flexibility: Some clothes require a bit of maneuvering to get into. A shirt with a small neck hole and sleeves can be hard to get over the head and shimmy into. Putting on shoes that require lacing or are tight can be difficult if your loved one cannot bend over.
3. Reduced Strength and Balance: Ironing clothes can become very difficult if your loved one can no longer stand for long periods of time or if he can’t hold a heavy iron safely.
4. Vision Issues: If your loved one’s vision is weak, he might be able to see well enough to tell the difference between two very similar pairs of shoes and wear one of each. Or he might not notice that he buttoned up his shirt incorrectly.
5. Cognitive Issues: If your loved one is struggling with cognitive issues, he might get overwhelmed when looking at an overflowing closet, or he might forget that he has worn the same shirt for the last three days.

 

Tips for Helping Your Loved One Dress Better and More Easily

It might just be that your loved one needs to have his wardrobe reviewed, updated, and preened. He might need to get some clothes that are easier for him to get in and out of, and get rid of older outfits that are no longer easily maintained. Finding pants with elastic waists, loose shirts that slip over the head, and fabrics that are wrinkle-free can be a great start in helping your loved one get dressed without problems again.

For some seniors who not only struggle with getting dressed but who are perhaps finding those same issues affecting their ability to get ready each day or perform daily grooming activities, a companion care at home program might be the right answer. With companion care at home services, they can receive the help they need, not only getting dressed each day, but with other grooming needs like shaving, bathing, and combing their hair.

Regular visits from companion care at home providers can ensure that your loved one not only looks their best, but feels confident about it as well.

 

 

 

If you or an aging loved one is considering Companion Care at Home in Falls Church, VA, please contact the caring staff at Butters Home Health Care today. (703) 371-2113