Dressing includes selecting appropriate clothing for the time of day, weather, and occasion. Obtaining clothing from closets and drawers. Dressing and undressing using open-front garments (shirt/blouse, robe, sweater, jacket, winter coat), pullover garments (sweatshirt, t-shirt, sweater), bra, pants, skirts, suspenders, necktie, scarf, gloves, underwear, socks, pantyhose, nylons, shoes, boots, slippers, support and anti-embolism stockings. Opening and closing fasteners, (snaps, buttons, hooks, zippers, Velcro). Managing personal medical devices (hearing aids, eyeglasses, contacts, AFO, hand splint, back brace, slings, and prosthetics).

Occupational Therapy Intervention
Apply different approaches for solving difficulties with dressing.

• Remediate underlying limitations to safety and independence. Physical (e.g. muscle weakness, limited ROM, fatigue), sensory (e.g. impaired sensation, low vision, pain), behavioral (e.g. anxiety, depression, impulsivity), cognitive (e.g. impaired attention, memory, language and communication, or executive functions), perceptual (e.g. unilateral neglect, impaired figure ground).
• Train in compensatory techniques (safety techniques, one-handed techniques, pacing, energy conservation, joint protection, body mechanics, breathing techniques, low vision techniques, cognitive/perceptual compensation, step-by-step instructions, task segmentation, task sequencing, backward chaining, verbal and physical cueing, hand-over-hand guiding).
• Train in the use of adaptive equipment and assistive devices (buttonhook, Velcro closures on shoes, elastic shoelaces, long handled shoehorn, dressing stick, reacher, sock aid, zipper pull, loops on pants, loops on socks, labeling system for identifying clothes, and specialized clothing).
• Provide environmental modifications and adaptations (avoid storing items on the floor, lower closet poles, organize clothes within easy reach, and label drawers using picture or words).
• Instruct in activity modification.
  
  • Change the task (place the weaker extremity into the garment first, dress in a supine position).
  • Eliminate part or all of the task (choose garments that are easy to put on and remove such as: elastic waist pants, loose fitting tops, pullover tops, suspenders instead of a belt, Velcro shoes, slip on shoes, front hook bra, sports bra, camisole).
  • Have someone else do part or the entire task.

Train in safe and efficient functional mobility (sit to stand, bed mobility skills, transfers, standing, ambulation, and wheelchair mobility) during dressing tasks.

Provide caregiver/family education and training.

Patient and Caregiver Handouts

Dressing Techniques - One Handed

Dressing Techniques - Upper Body