10 Simple Dressing Aids Help Seniors Stay Independent

Simple dressing aids help seniors stay independent even with serious health conditions

Getting dressed can be challenging for seniors

Arthritis, illness, surgery, or other health conditions can make it difficult for many seniors to get dressed and undressed.

Getting dressed shouldn’t be a constant struggle or the reason that your older adult loses independence. Many inexpensive dressing aids are available today.

We rounded up 10 simple and smart dressing aids that help older adults dress themselves more easily.

 

10 dressing aids help seniors dress independently

A dressing stick helps seniors pull up or push off clothing
1. $6 Sammons Preston 26-inch Dressing Stick
This wooden dressing stick has two plastic-coated hooked ends.

Use it to pull up pants and zippers and help fasten buttons. Or, use it to push off clothing and remove socks.

 

Seniors use a button hook to easily fasten button-up shirts
2. $8 OXO Good Grips Button Hook Aid
Arthritic fingers, tremors, or loss of dexterity can turn buttoning a shirt into a frustrating struggle. Use this simple button hook to fasten regular-size buttons.

 

Elastic laces mean that seniors don't need to bend down to tie shoes
3. $8 Lock Laces (Elastic No-Tie Shoelaces)
Tying sneakers requires finger dexterity and bending or kneeling, making it tough for many seniors.

Replace regular shoelaces with elastic no-tie shoelaces instead. These laces make any lace-up shoes into slip-ons!

 

A sock aid helps seniors put on socks independently
4. $9 Vaunn Medical EZ-TUG Sock Aid with Foam Grip
Putting on socks can be a huge effort for some seniors.

This sock aid makes it much easier to get socks on. It has a plastic body and foam grips.

First, put the sock on the plastic tube. Then, insert the foot into the tube and pull up using the grips.

 

A sock aid helps seniors put on socks without bending over
5. $10 Delaman Easy-On/Easy-Off Sock Aid
This sock aid has a more flexible tube, so it might be a better fit for seniors with smaller sized feet.

 

This dressing stick doubles as a shoehorn, making dressing easier for seniors          This dressing stick doubles as a shoehorn, making dressing easier for seniors
6. $13 Regal 2-in-1 Dressing Stick and Shoehorn
Dressing sticks help older adults reach and pull various clothing items. 

Use this plastic stick to pull up pants or hook fabric to pull clothing far enough to grab. It also helps remove clothes and socks. 

Plus, this one also doubles as a shoehorn.

 

This shoe funnel makes it easy for seniors to slip into their shoes
7. $14 FootFunnel Shoe Assist
This innovative shoe aid is different from a shoe horn. It’s a plastic piece that fits over the heel of the shoe.

The plastic makes it easy to slip a foot into the shoe without getting caught on the heel.

Some of the reviews said it was better than a shoehorn, but that it doesn’t fit all shoes (depends on the thickness or stiffness of the heel part).

 

An extra long shoehorn means no more bending over to put on shoes
8. $16 Home-X 31.5 inch Extra Long Metal Shoehorn
You might think that all shoehorns are created equal, but this one seems to be a cut above the rest.

The extra length means no bending over and the strong metal makes it extra durable. Many reviewers absolutely loved this simple shoehorn.

 

Seniors can use a grabber tool to reach things high up or down low
9. $18 Ettore Grip ‘n Grab
This grabber can reach for more than just clothing, but it comes in handy while getting dressed.

Instead of bending over or reaching for various clothing items, just use this grabbing tool.

 

A compression sock aid makes it possible to get those tight socks on
10. $28 Jobst Stocking Donner
Compression socks are one of the most difficult and time-consuming items to put on because they’re so tight.

To make things easier, use a compression stocking aid.

The frame isn’t adjustable, so those with larger or very swollen legs might want to try the $28 Mediven Stocking Butler instead.

 

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By DailyCaring Editorial Team
Image: OTPlan

 

All prices quoted were checked shortly before publication, but prices and availability change often and might not match what is found online. This article wasn’t sponsored, but does contain some affiliate links. We never link to products or services for the sole purpose of making a commission. Recommendations are based on our honest opinions. For more information, see How We Make Money.


8 Comments

  • Reply January 21, 2024

    Anonymous

    For Clifford
    I put my sweater, jacket or coat over one top side of my power lift recliner, back up to the garment, put one arm into one sleeve, reach for the other underarm opening and work the garment into position. It works great with practice and solved the same problem for me, good luck Clifford.

  • Reply August 27, 2021

    Karen L Brekke

    Any ideas on helping someone pull up their pants, zip when standing is difficult – need to use two hands to stand up with walker and pants fall down.

    • Reply August 27, 2021

      DailyCaring

      It sounds like it would be safer to try to put on pants while seated. However, many adaptive pants for people who use wheelchairs have open bottoms, which may not work for this situation.

      Two companies that make adaptive clothing are Silvert’s at https://www.silverts.com/ and Buck & Buck at https://www.buckandbuck.com/ You may want to call them to see if they have specific clothing items that they’d recommend for this situation.

      But based on the question, it may be safest for the person to get help from another person when putting on pants.

  • Reply September 22, 2018

    Susan Sankovic

    Thank you for info. Mom is 87 and is finding life difficult. She has trouble pulling pants on as her knees won’t cooperate. Knee surgery both legs, very swollen and sore. I’d like ideas on what apparatus could help her dress independently

    • Reply September 25, 2018

      DailyCaring

      That can definitely make getting dressed tough. I’d suggest trying a combination of dressing aids and adaptive clothing.

      The dressing aids on this page may be helpful. Observe your mom and try to identify specific movements that she struggles with the most. Focus on finding aids or clothing that could make those movements easier.

      And since she’s just healing from surgery, she may need some help with dressing her lower half until the swelling and soreness subside.

      These are a few adaptive clothing companies that have good products:
      — Buck & Buck https://www.buckandbuck.com/
      — Silvert’s https://www.silverts.com/
      — Alium Adaptive Apparel https://www.aliumadaptive.com/

  • Reply January 17, 2018

    Clifford Morris

    I have great difficulty putting on my coat as I have limited arm movement.
    I did not see anything that would help in my case not even something to hold the jacket in position

    • Reply January 20, 2018

      DailyCaring

      Clifford — Have you given the dressing sticks a try (shown in #1 and #2)? Sometimes it can take some trial and error to push and pull the clothing using the dressing stick. I hope you can find a solution that works well for you.

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