Dressing Aids

For someone who's survived a stroke, dressing themselves can become very frustrating. Dressing aids can help maximize dressing independence.

To eliminate difficulties in getting dressed, stroke survivors can avoid clothing that may be difficult to put on. The National Stroke Association suggests to “avoid tight-fitting sleeves, armholes, pant legs and waistlines, as well as clothes which must be put on over the head.” Clothes should fasten in the front. Velcro fasteners or elastic in place of buttons, zippers and shoelaces can make fastening clothes easier.

Dressing aids are also available. A reacher, button hook, dressing stick (for putting on clothing and socks and reaching items from a closet), mirror that hangs around the neck, sock aid (which is used to put on socks when someone has difficulty reaching his feet), long handled shoe horn, and elastic shoe strings can all be used in this process. If a stroke victim wants to dress themselves, many adaptive dressing aids are available to allow them to dress independently.