Getting dressed shouldn’t take so much energy and be so hard but, as is often the case for disabled people, it can be exhausting. There are some simple things you can buy to make life easier though. Most of these solutions cost less than £10 and are worth every penny. They are especially useful for those people who wish to remain as independent as possible or don’t have access to personal care.
The long Handled Shoe Horn.
My Grandfather used a shoe horn his entire life and I’m quite sure many people of his generation did too. It may have dropped out of fashion in recent years but for people who can’t bend properly, or reach their feet for any reason, the long handled shoe horn is a necessity. It allows you to lift the tongue so you can get your toes in, then acts as a slide for your heel so it doesn’t get caught or crush the heel of your shoe as you slide your foot in. No more tugging at the heel of a shoe to get it on. If you suffer with oedema it will allow you to get your foot easily in to a shoe that you might otherwise struggle with. There are two readily available versions. The first is a straight shoe horn that has little flex to it and the second is a shoe horn with spring. The one with a spring flexes and may be easier for some people to use. I got my first, straight, one when I had a total right hip replacement and I’ve used it almost daily since then. From slippers to winter boots I would recommend it to anyone.
The Dressing Stick.
The dressing stick is an all in one dressing aid. It has a fixed shoe horn on one end and a curved hook on the other. If you have restricted movement due to your disability this can help with that by being an extension to your arm. It can push, when taking off trousers or socks, or pull, when pulling on a shirt or cardigan. This is especially useful for people who simply can’t reach, bend, or twist to dress. There are plenty of easy to find videos on YouTube which will show you how to use one if you aren’t able to speak to an occupational therapist about it.
The Sock Aid.
Much like the long handled shoe horn, the sock aid is a must for people who can’t put their own socks or stockings on. You simply slide the aid into your sock, drop it on to the floor whilst holding on to the handles, then slide your foot in and pull. They work best with socks that are a little on the loose side around the cuff such as diabetic socks. A compression sock will just squash a normal sock aid and you won’t be able to get your foot in it. If you do need to wear compression socks I would suggest buying a sock aid designed for them. These tend to be much more sturdy and you either need to be able to bend or have someone to help. Socks aids come in single foot or both feet designs depending on how you wish to use them. From personal experience these type of aids won’t always pull your socks up high enough so I use a grabber or dressing stick to finish the job.
Button Hook/Zipper Pull
Many years ago I worked in nursing homes here in the UK and I remember having to ask the families of those in my care to change the clothes they bought in. Arthritis and other disabilities meant that many of those in our care could no longer fasten buttons or zips on their own, and we simply didn’t have the time to help them. Since then I’ve met many people, of all ages, who have the same issues with fastening clothing and could really have done with this little gadget.
One end has a C hook, which easily slips through the end of a zipper, allowing someone to do up a coat or trouser zipper for example. The other end has a modified loop. To use it you slip the modified hook through your button hole, loop it around the button, then pull the button through the hole and slide the loop off. Once again there are quite a few YouTube videos which explain it visually much better than I can describe in text.
All of the above are easily available in local mobility shops or online.
With kind thanks to Wendy and Mim for all their help.