Difficulties with physical activities
Instruction
Ask: Do you have difficulties with physical activities?
- If the person answers yes, or is not sure, ask all physical skills questions to understand more about the type of difficulties they experience.
- If the person answers no, the physical skills questions do not need to be asked. Continue to plan.
Difficulty lifting or moving leg/s
Instruction
Ask: Do you have difficulty lifting or moving your leg/s to put on or take off clothes?
If the person has difficulty lifting or moving their leg/s and dressing their lower body, a dressing aid may help.
Question
Refer to the selection table on the assessment form.
Which dressing aids may be helpful for a person who has difficulty moving or lifting their leg/s?
Select four.
If you selected a, b, d, and e, you are correct!
The reach and grab tool, dressing stick, sock aid and long handle shoe horn can help a person who has difficulty lifting or moving their legs. Always encourage the person to try different dressing aids to find out which are suitable for their needs.
c is incorrect.
A button hook and zip puller is not helpful for a person who has difficulty lifting or moving their leg/s.
Difficulty lifting or moving one arm
Instruction
Ask: Do you have difficulty lifting or moving one arm to put on or take off clothes?
If the person has difficulty lifting or moving one arm and dressing their upper or lower body, a dressing aid may help.
Question
Refer to the selection table on the assessment form.
Which dressing aids may be helpful for a person with difficulty lifting or moving one arm?
Select and click to check answers.
Correct!
A reach and grab tool can be used one-handed to:
- Reach for and pick up clothes and shoes
- Pull clothes on over feet.
Correct!
A dressing stick can be used one-handed to pull clothes onto the upper and lower body.
Correct!
A button hook and zip puller can be used one-handed to do up and undo buttons and zips.
Incorrect.
A sock aid is difficult to use with one hand.
Correct!
A long handle shoe horn can be used one-handed to help get feet into or out of shoes.
If the person has difficulty with dressing, changing the way they get dressed may also help.
Question
Remember Aida?
Aida is 49 years old and has weakness on the left side of her body after a stroke. During your assessment with Aida, you both select:
- A reach and grab tool, to reach for and pick up clothes
- A dressing stick to help to pull on clothes over her lower body
- A button hook and zip puller to do up and undo buttons and zips
- A long handle shoe horn to help put her shoes on.
What other changes would you suggest to Aida to assist her to dress and undress?
Select and click to check answers.
Correct!
Sitting down to get dressed and undressed may be easier and safer for Aida.
Incorrect.
It may be harder for Aida to use her dressing aids lying down.
Correct!
Aida has weakness on one side of her body. She may find it easier to put clothes on her weaker side first and take clothes off her stronger side first.
Correct!
Aida may find clothes that are stretchy or loose easier to pull on and off.
She may find slip on shoes easier to put on and off her feet.
It is important to talk to Aida about all options, including:
- Using dressing aids
- Changing dressing position
- Changing how she gets dressed and undressed.
Difficulty lifting or moving both arms
Instruction
Ask: Do you have difficulty lifting or moving both arms to put on or take off clothes?
If the person has difficulty moving both arms, dressing aids may not help.
Discussion
Meet Adiva
Adiva is an older woman, who lives with her husband and enjoys spending time with her family.
Adiva has arthritis. She has stiffness in her fingers, hands, elbows, and shoulders which is often painful. This makes it difficult to move both her arms.
Adiva often cannot lift her arms to pull her dress over her head. She also cannot reach forward towards her feet to pull clothes on over her lower body.
Adiva’s health worker recommended she try a reach and grab tool and a dressing stick to see which would make it easier to pull clothes on over her head and lower body.
Adiva could not hold or use the trigger on the reach and grab tool. She also could not hold onto the dressing stick.
What could assist a person like Adiva, who cannot hold dressing aids?
Discuss with your colleagues.
- Adiva may benefit from rehabilitation services. Discuss and check if Adiva would like a referral.
- Adiva may need assistance from a family member or caregiver, especially when her arthritis is very painful.
Difficulty using hands to do up and/or undo fasteners
Instruction
Ask: Do you have difficulty using your hands to do up or undo fasteners such as zips and buttons?
Some people have difficulty holding small fasteners like buttons or zips to do up or undo them.
A button hook and zip puller can assist.
Question
Meet Samuel
Samuel has Down syndrome and finds it difficult to coordinate the movements of his fingers to do up buttons and tie his shoelaces.
Samuel can hold onto the thick handle on the button hook and zip puller to help him do up and undo buttons on his clothes.
What else can assist Samuel?
Select one.
Choose different clothing is correct!
Samuel has difficulty doing up and undoing fasteners. Choosing clothing without buttons and zips may be easier.
Difficulty reaching for and picking up clothes or shoes
Instruction
Ask: Do you have difficulty reaching for and picking up clothes or shoes?
Some people have difficulty reaching with their arms to pick up or pull on/off clothes or shoes. A dressing aid may help.
Question
Which dressing aid would assist a person to reach for and pick up clothes and shoes?
Select one.
Reach and grab tool is correct!
Reach and grab tools assist a person to reach for and pick up their clothes and shoes.
This can help if clothes fall on the floor while getting dressed or undressed.
Difficulty leaning forward
Instruction
Ask: Do you have difficulty leaning forward to pull on or pull off clothes or shoes?
The ability to lean forward makes it easier to reach for, pick up or pull on/off clothes or shoes.
If the person has difficulty leaning forward, a dressing aid may help.
Question
Which dressing aids would assist a person who has difficulty leaning forward?
Select four.
If you selected a, b, d, and e, you are correct!
These dressing aids make it easier to reach for and pick up clothes and/or shoes.
c is incorrect.
A button hook and zip puller does not assist people who have difficulty leaning forwards.
Difficulty with balance
Instruction
Ask: Do you have difficulty with balance when dressing or undressing?
A person needs good balance to reach down to their legs and feet while getting dressed.
If the person has difficulty with balance, it may be harder to reach down to their legs and feet while getting dressed or undressed. A dressing aid may help.
Question
Meet David
David gets tired while getting dressed. He sometimes feels off balance when reaching to pull clothes on over his feet and put on his socks and shoes.
1. Which dressing aids may assist David to reach and pull on clothes while getting dressed?
Select four.
If you selected a, b, d, and e, you are correct!
These dressing aids may assist David to reach his feet more easily.
c is incorrect.
A button hook and zip puller will not help David reach his feet.
2. What else may assist David to get dressed or undressed more easily?
Select two.
If you selected a and b, you are correct!
Sitting down may be less tiring and make it easier for David to balance while getting dressed.
Choosing shoes that are easier to get on and off may also assist.
c is incorrect.
David has difficulties with balance. Asking him to lean further forward to reach his feet is dangerous and will not make it easier for him to get dressed.
Instruction
Remember, if dressing aid/s do not help, refer the person to a rehabilitation service.