Nursing Home Products - Adaptive Clothing

Clothing for the Elderly – Dressing the Elderly

Clothing for the elderly requires considerations different than clothing made for the rest of the population as they tend to have specialized needs. Many elderly have physical limitations that must be considered when selecting their clothing. Some require assistance to get dressed and undressed. Others may have special medical equipment attached to them that requires accommodation within garments. Many elderly people have limited mobility, which demands clothing that is easily slipped on and off without a lot of strenuous effort. Above everything else, the elderly require clothing that helps maintain comfort and warmth.

As we age, we tend to lose strength, our joints tighten up and even simple movements can take much more effort than before. For this reason, clothing for the elderly must be easy to put on and take off when needed. Shirts and gowns that button or zip are much easier to put on rather than garments that are meant to be pulled over. Wide sleeve openings also help accommodate elderly people of limited mobility and larger sizes. Arthritis can set in making small buttons difficult. Garments with larger buttons and zipper pulls help older people dress themselves, therefore maintaining their dignity.
Elderly patients who may be in long-term care situations can benefit from clothing that looks like regular clothing but functions like Adaptive clothing allowing the patient to get dressed with ease.

Medical considerations are also important when contemplating clothing for the elderly. Frequent physical examinations, especially within a care home environment may require special clothing that makes areas of the body more accessible so that the patient does not have to undress frequently. Wires and tubes for medical equipment are also much easier to deal with a sleeve that buttons or snaps along the top hem, so that clothing can be worn around the wires, allowing caregivers and medical professionals a comfortable way to access them without the hindrance of clothing in the way. 

Elderly people tend to move less due to physical restraint and therefore, require clothing that provides a little more warmth than younger people prefer. Layering on blankets should be a temporary solution; clothing for the elderly should maintain warmth, making movement more possible when they are ready. As older people tend to sleep more than the younger population, clothing should be comfortable to sleep in as well. Many elderly people nap several times per day in their clothing. Elastic waistlines, flat buttons and soft fabrics help.