Options for Easy Access Clothing for the Elderly

Easy access clothing for the elderly can cover everything from shirts, to pants, to shoes and even clothing accessories. Arthritis, strokes and other conditions can make simple tasks, such as getting dressed, more challenging for seniors. Adaptive clothing helps seniors live more independently.

Reasons for Easy Access Clothing

There are many reasons why seniors might need special, adaptive clothing, including:

• Alzheimer's
• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Disabilities
• Foot Problems
• Stroke
• Parkinson's
• Poor eyesight
• Lack of coordination
• Inability to bend over or flexibility issues

These are just a few of the more common issues seniors face.

While buttoning buttons or zipping zippers may have once been easy, these everyday jobs can become quite frustrating with lack of flexibility, things that cause shakiness or muscle control. There are many clothing options that can ease these challenges and still allow elderly individuals to retain independence in their everyday dressing tasks. Whatever the need might be, it is certain that there is a type of clothing to suit almost any need.

Types of Easy Access Clothing for the Elderly

There are many different categories of easy access clothing for the elderly.

Backwards Shirts

Those who care for the elderly will tell you that traditional clothing can sometimes be as bothersome to the caregiver as to the senior. For example, trying to button a shirt from the front can be an embarrassing and uncoordinated endeavor, while purchasing a blouse that buttons in the back can make dressing someone else much easier and faster.

These kinds of options are a must in nursing home settings, where one nurse or aide may be caring for many different patients. Companies such as iCare Clothing Solutions offer many different items, including backward shirts, which are perfect for caregivers.

No-Button Clothing

The biggest area of difficulty for most seniors can be buttoning pieces of clothing. Fingers that are arthritic or any type of muscle loss, cramping or loss of sensation can create problems in this area. Companies such as Silvert's offer many different options, including Velcro pieces. Velcro can replace buttons, zippers, snaps and laces.

Shoes Without Laces

Tying your shoes might become impossibility as you enter your twilight years. Many different companies offer solutions from Velcro to slip-on shoes. There is no reason to forgo style for functionality, however. You'll find many stylish shoe wear models at stores such as:

• Shoes.com - A wide selection of choices for elderly women and men, including slip-ons, sport shoes and more.
• Buck and Buck - Specializes in adaptive clothing for nursing home residents. A nice assortment of footwear for both men and women.

Jewelry

Accessories, such as necklaces, bracelets and watches can seem out of reach for many seniors, but there are many aids available to help with these clothing accessories, such as:

• Magnetic Jewelry Clasps - These clasps can be added to just about any necklace and many bracelets. The magnetic ends are attracted to one another and hold firmly to prevent loss of jewelry. No need to struggle with tiny hooks and clasps. Simply hold the two ends close to one another and the magnets will do the rest.

• Button Aid and Zipper Pull - Another option can be to adapt the clothing you already have by purchasing aids to help with difficult buttons and zippers. The tool offered on this site is just one of many aids available to seniors.

• Jewelry Fasteners - Jewelry fasteners can make putting on jewelry a snap. This site offers a couple of different models with one that will also work on clasps, buttons and zippers, making it a multi-functional tool.

Whether you are a senior who just needs a little easier to assemble clothing options, or a caregiver who needs help getting your loved one dressed in the mornings, these options will make life and getting dressed much easier.