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Dressing with a disabled limb
The general rule is dress the disabled limb first. To undress, take the
garment off the good limb first, then remove clothing from the disabled
limb.
Make dressing with a cast easier by slipping the leg section of nylon
hosiery over the cast before dressing. If using panty hose, simply cut off
the leg at the crotch and snip off the foot.
If you don't own a bra that hooks in front, try this. Position your bra
to fasten it in front. Then stand with the disabled arm next to a dresser
or chair. Place one end of the bra between your body and the dresser. Take
the good arm and hook the bra. Then slide it around at the waist so that
the bra is in the proper position and put the bad arm into the armhole.
Next, put the good arm through its armhole and lift the straps into a
comfortable position.
Putting on blouses, jackets and cardigan sweaters
Lay the garment on the floor, table, or bed (or other flat surface) with
the collar nearest to your feet and the wrong side of the garment facing up
toward the ceiling. Bend over and put your arms into the armholes and lift
the garment up and over your head.
Removing blouses, jackets and sweaters
Unbutton and ease garment off shoulders. Reach behind your back and
gently tug the garment off. If your balance is unsteady, sit on the edge of
the bed or on a chair to put on your clothing.
Dress in front of a mirror. It'll help you find the sleeves and match
up buttons with buttonholes. If you button garments from the bottom up,
you're less likely to skip a button. Or button the bottom buttons and put
the garment on over your head.
If your arms are weak, rest your elbows on a table, chest of drawers, or
chair armrests when fastening buttons.
Dressing Children
It's easier to dress children if they hold a raisin or piece of dry
cereal in their hand. Closed fists make it easier to get hands through
sleeves.
It's easier to put shoes on a wiggly toddler who's "trapped" in a high
chair.
Help young children learn to dress themselves by placing a large "X"
inside the fronts of shirts, pants, sweatshirts, and underwear.
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