If a senior wants to make a
case for remaining in her/his own home, being able to do basic self-care is
essential. If you look disheveled and
are not getting dressed to face each and every day, you will have a hard time
convincing yourself or anyone else that everything is okay. It isn’t only about putting on a good face
but about the satisfaction achieved by being able to navigate your surroundings
in a successful manner.
People perceive you based on how you look and how you take care of yourself. Young people can get away with looking less
than pristine but if anyone sees a senior in the garden with shorts hanging
down to their knees and unlaced shoes, it is different story.
So let’s talk a little bit
about grooming and dressing when you are dexterity challenged. Grooming in a
standard bathroom may be a real challenge and whenever possible should be done
from a seated position. There are a
number of home modifications that can be instituted to make this possible. Find
information or consult a designer who specializes in universal design
features. You can redesign a bathroom to
meet accessibility, comfort and safety standards.
Grooming, on the other hand,
goes beyond a bathroom remodel. Grooming
for many older persons is often a one handed activity. Fortunately there are
many devices that you can purchase to help you out. Toothbrushes with built-up handles, dentures
cups with suction bases are a start. You
can find clippers, nail brushes and dental floss holders as well as adaptive
holders for everything from hair dryers to electric razors that you can
manipulate with one hand. Neatly combed
hair is important if you want to appear well
groomed. For starters, regular salon
appointments and an easy to care for hair style will make grooming easier. Large grip hairbrushes and combs are designed
to compensate for decreased dexterity and limited range of motion.
Getting out of bed easily is
a good way to start the day. If getting out of bed is like climbing a mountain
and you have to grab the headboard or hang onto the blankets just to get out of
bed, consider getting grab bars or a pole to give you something to hang on to.
When it comes to dressing, you will be pleased to know
that there are a number of gadgets that can reduce the need for bending or
excessive reaching. Look into stocking
aides, dressing sticks and zipper pulls.
For women, front closing and pull on bras are good choices. Many garments for both men and women come
with Velcro fasteners and not having to fumble with buttons is a real
plus. You don’t have to be very old for
small buttons on shirts to be a challenge.
To this day, I am amazed that men can get the tiny buttons on standard
shirts fastened at all. Standard
clothing can easily be adapted by eliminating the need to button and zip. Drawstrings or elastic sewn into waistbands
are effective ways to make dressing less of a chore. There are also devices to help fasten clothes
that do have buttons, to special aids to help you put on shoes.
Anything that can be done to
reduce excessive reaching or bending or reduces the need for delicate manual
dexterity will make grooming and
dressing easier. Now that you are
up, washed and dressed you are ready to make a good impression and face the
day.
Comments