Just the Facts and More: Dressing

Physical appearance is important to everyone's sense of self-esteem. For the person with Alzheimer's disease, the simple act of putting on clothing can be frustrating. For this reason, you need to manage dressing difficulties one-by-one. There are many reasons why the person with Alzheimer's might have problems dressing, including the following:

Physical Problems

Does the person have problems with balance or with motor skills that are needed to fasten buttons or close zippers?

Intellectual Problems

Does the person remember how to dress?

Does (s)he recognize her clothes?

Is (s)he aware of the time of day or season of the year?

Environment

Is the person troubled by lack of privacy, a cold room, poor lighting, or loud noises?

Other Concerns

Are you pressuring the person to get dressed quickly?

Are you giving the person clear step-by-step instructions on how to dress or does the task seem too complicated?

Is the person embarrassed or humiliated by dressing in front of a non-family caregiver?

Once you've answered these questions, you will be in a better position to help the person get dressed.

Action Steps

Recognize the importance of clothing and self-esteem.

Keep in mind that getting dressed and looking presentable are critical to a person's sense of well-being and self-esteem.

Make it easy for the patient to make clothing selections.

Lay out proper clothes for the person, including appropriate selections for warm and cool weather.
If appropriate, give the person an opportunity to select favorite outfits or colors.
If the person insists on wearing the same clothes every day, try to launder these clothes often or get duplicates of favorite outfits. You may need to temporarily distract the individual as you remove clothing for cleaning.
You may want to remove excess clothing from the closet. Seeing many clothes can be overwhelming and upsetting to the person.

Choose clothing that's practical.

Select fabrics that are lightweight and flexible and feel soft and comfortable on the person's skin.
In general, choose clothing that's durable, washable and flame retardant.

Consider experimenting with various types of fasteners.

Keep in mind that pressure tape or Velcro can be used as a substitute for buttons, snaps and hooks.
Other devices include large-ring or loop-handled zippers or tape loops.
Many caregivers turn to jogging suits that are washable, comfortable and have few fasteners.

Pay attention to the feet.

To give the person's feet adequate support, encourage wearing regular shoes instead of slippers.
Slip-on styles with elasticized inserts on the top are easy to put on and remove.
Sneakers or shoes with crepe soles can help to prevent falls. Have an extra pair of shoes on hand in case the person's feet swell and keep the feet warm with loose-fitting, ease-to-wear socks.

Prepare for dressing.

Give easy-to-understand instructions and simple clothing selections so the person can dress him/herself for as long as possible.
Lay out clothes in the order the person will put them on and then assist him/her through each step of the dressing process.

Dress for ease and convenience.

Choose comfortable and loose-fitting clothing that is easy to put on and remove.
Many caregivers find that cardigans or tops that fasten in front are more comfortable and easier to work with than pullovers.
To avoid tripping and falling, make sure that clothing length is appropriate.

Adapt regular clothes to the needs of the patient.

If the patient is confined to a wheelchair, you might adapt regular clothes to protect the patient's privacy and allow for greater comfort.
Make sure that clothing is loose-fitting, especially at the waist and hips.
Choose fabrics that are soft, stretchable and slick.

Adjust to the problems of incontinence.

If incontinence is a problem for the person, make sure that clothing is easy to remove and care for.
Although some caregivers purchase protective pads, you might also want to add an extra layer of protection to regular clothing by lining the backs of skirts or pants with terry cloth material.

Helping the Alzheimer patient with his/her grooming and dressing will allow him/her to maintain a sense of dignity and positive self-esteem. It's important to remember to let the person perform daily dressing routines for as long as possible.

Resources

One of the best places to turn for additional help is the Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer's Association has more than 83 Chapters and 1,600 support groups nationwide, where family members of people with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder share their experiences, provide each other with emotional support, hear practical suggestions and learn to rebuild their lives.

The primary resource for this fact sheet was Mary Barringer, RNC, Partner, Professional Care Management Services, Springfield, Illinois.

Special thanks to the following Chapters of the Alzheimer's Association: Eastern Massachusetts; South Central Michigan; St. Louis, Missouri; Southwestern Missouri; and Cleveland, Ohio.

Other Resources include:

Miriam K. Aronson, Ed.D. "Understanding Alzheimer's Disease." New York: Scribner's, 1988.

David L. Carroll. "When Your Loved One Has Alzheimer's Disease: A Caregiver's Guide." New York: Harper and Row, 1989.

Donna Cohen, Ph.D., and Carol Eisdorfer, Ph.D., MD. "The Loss of Self." New York: Norton and Co., 1986.

Compiled by the Lincoln/Greater Nebraska Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 1999.