Wearing clothes is something that we have become acquainted with from an early age. All it takes is to pick up a particular piece of clothing of our choice and put it on. This has become an integral part of our lives, and it does not take much to put on a shirt or a pair of trousers. However, elderly people have a lot on their plate to deal with and wearing clothes is not as easy for them as it is for able individuals.
The challenges for elderly people in dressing up are profoundly responsible for influencing the quality of their life as well as that of caregivers who have to help elderly people in every aspect of their life. In the following discussion, we shall be reflecting on some essential pointers that can help an individual to help elderly people effectively with their dressing needs.
Allowing sufficient time:
The foremost requirement needed in the context of clothing for seniors is patience. Caregivers and family members should understand that allowing substantial time to elderly people for dressing up could improve their morale. By allowing more time, seniors would be most likely to cooperate and deal effectively with their conditions.
A simple example of an elderly person afflicted with dementia could be taken into account where they are unable to perceive a clear order for getting dressed and understanding the way for wearing a particular clothing item. Hence, it is advisable to go slow with the dressing of elderly individuals.
Find out skin issues, if any!
While dressing in clothing items selected for elderly people, it is essential to look out for any form of skin diseases, infections or wounds. Ageing people experience skin issues commonly, and it is essential to check these issues in order to ensure that the wearer is comfortable. Elderly people experience limited mobility thereby giving rise to conditions such as pressure sores, redness, and irritation. Some of the important areas to look for skin issues are heels, buttocks, elbows and shoulder blades in order to avoid the concerns of infections and open wounds.
The selection of clothing for seniors should be inclusive of simple choices. Elderly people also need to have a say in the choice of their fashion. Therefore, it is recommended to facilitate more than two seasonal alternatives to elderly people. This would help seniors in having a sense of self-esteem as well as control over their life through choosing the clothing items of their choice.
Dealing with aggressiveness:
Aggressive behaviors could also be observed prominently in the case of elderly people due to the development and progression of conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. Therefore, clothing for seniors in these cases should follow unconventional approaches. For example, some elderly people might not feel comfortable with someone standing in front of them while dressing and undressing. In such situations, it would be recommended to stay away from their direct line of sight while helping them in dressing. Furthermore, a calm and steadfast approach to such individuals could also ease the process of clothing them.
Finally, it can be concluded that clothing for elderly people is not an easy affair and has to be done with a lot of precautions. A good piece of advice that can be presented further is to search the internet for more tips as well as better sources for specialized or adaptive clothing!
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