Assisting a Senior With Alzheimer’s in Dressing

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

Thinking problems
• Does the person remember how to dress?
• Does he or she recognize her clothes?
• Is he or she 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 rushing 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 by dressing in front of you or others?
Once you’ve answered these questions, you’ll be in a better position to help the person get dressed.

Simplify choices
• 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. Try offering just two choices of shirts or pants.
• Keep the closets free of excess clothing. A person may panic if clothing choices become overwhelming.

Choose comfortable and simple clothing
• Choose comfortable and loose-fitting clothing that’s easy to put on and remove.
• Cardigans, shirts and blouses that button in front are sometimes easier to work than pullover tops.
• Substitute Velcro® for buttons, snaps and zippers, which may be too difficult to handle.
• To avoid tripping and falling, make sure that clothing length is appropriate.
• Make sure the person wears comfortable, non-slip shoes.
• If the person is confined to a wheelchair, adapt regular clothes to protect his or her privacy and allow for greater comfort.
• Make sure that clothing is loose fitting, especially at the waist and hips — and choose fabrics that are soft and stretchable.

Organize the dressing process
• Lay out clothes in the order each item should be put on.
• Hand the person one item of clothing at a time while giving short, simple instructions such as “Put on your shirt,” rather than “Get dressed.”
• Don’t rush the person. Haste can cause anxiety.

Be flexible
• If the person wants to wear the same outfit repeatedly, try getting a duplicate of it or have similar options available.
• It’s alright if the person wants to wear several layers of clothing, just make sure he or she doesn’t get overheated.
• Offer praise, not criticism, if clothing is mismatched.