Parkinson and clothing

Wearing clothes that you like and feel good in  can do wonders for improving self-confidence.  While people with Parkinson’s disease can sometimes experience problems with clothing,  professionals, such as occupational therapists, can advise on various dressing techniques, equipment, assistive technologies and an ever increasing range of fabrics and styles, which all help to make dressing and choosing clothes very much easier. Dressing and undressingDifferent techniques may enable you to maintain your independence in dressing and undressing, and may also enable you to keep wearing your existing wardrobe. Experiment to find the easiest way of dressing and undressing. This may involve trying different positions (for example sitting down), different fabrics (stretchy fabrics can be easier to pull on and off) or using different items in the room to help (for example, using the wall, bed or a solid chair next to the bed).

The following tips may also help:

• Consult an occupational therapist for advice about dressing and undressing.

• Allow time and space to dress, and try to choose a time when you are ‘on’ and your medication is having the maximum effect.

• Make sure that you stay warm when dressing or undressing, particularly if you need a long time.

• People with difficulty fastening buttons often find this becomes much easier if they sit down and describe the movements to themselves along the following lines: “Grip button … find hole … push button into hole … and … pull.”

It is a lot easier, safer and quicker to sit  when dressing – both upper and lower halves of the body. Concentrating on the task and avoiding distractions such as talking or listening to the radio while dressing will also improve the ‘flow’ of movements. Describing actions as you do them, as in the button fastening example above, using as few words as needed appears to help the fingers to ‘work on manual control’ when habitual movements lose their natural automatic flow as in Parkinson’s. When it is necessary to stand to pull up or straighten garments, touch the back of the calf muscles against the bedside or chair, for good balance.

•  You may be able to cut down on the  number of items that you have to put on by choosing, for example, lined skirts or dresses (so that you will not need a slip), or quilted items (so that you need to put on fewer layers).

•  It may be helpful to attach garments, such  as trousers and underpants, together with Velcro so that you can put on two items at once. Remember that Velcro must always be closed before washing.

•  There is equipment available, such as dressing sticks and shoe horns, that may be useful, although these may not suit some people with Parkinson’s and may be frustrating to try to use. Consult an occupational therapist for more advice on this. Visit your local Disabled Living Centre for further advice and an opportunity to try out dressing aids. An appointment is often necessary, so phone beforehand.