If you find dressing difficult, there are a number of things you can try to remain independent with dressing. Choosing appropriate styles and fabrics, adapted clothing as well as using special techniques or equipment can all help to make dressing easier -
- skirts and trousers with elasticated waistbands are often easier to manage than those with fasteners
- loose fitting, stretchy clothing without fastenings, such as T-shirts, are often easier to manage and eliminates the need to fasten buttons or zips
- if choosing clothing with fasteners, make sure the fastener is easily accessible, such as being at the front
- magnetic or Velcro fasteners are usually easier to manage
- clothes made from knitted or 'jersey' fabrics are often easier to manage than more stiff, woven fabrics
- smooth, slippery fabrics such as silk are usually easier to get on and off, as they glide easily over your skin or other layers of clothing
- zip fastenings can be quicker and easier than buttons, although open ended zips can be difficult to align and fasten if you have pain or stiffness in your fingers
- extended tabs or loops can be added to zip tags to make them easier to grip and fasten