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General: Assist
in Dressing and
Undressing
Overview
Clothes are closely associated
with the personality of a person and whenever possible, while he is
cared for in bed, he should be encouraged to wear the kind of clothes he
would normally wears.
When a person is very sick or disabled, he may have difficulties with dressing
and undressing. In these circumstances, you will either undertake
these
activities for the person or, at least, assist him to perform them.
You should always encourage the person to regain the maximum amount
of
independence as quickly as possible and the act of dressing is one step
towards independence.
A person who is unwell usually feels cold more than anyone due the decrease of activities.
It is your duty to ensure that he is dressed appropriately to keep warm. This is especially
so in comatose person who cannot express his needs. Those who
are alert could be quite embarrassed in the process of been dressed or undressed.
Tips on Dressing and Undressing a Person:
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Always
preserve the person modesty by not undressing him unnecessarily.
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Close
the door and draw the curtains when undressing the person.
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Keep
the room warm because you may take some time to complete the task.
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Encourage
the person to do as much as possible himself to boost his independence and
morale.
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Talk
to the person to alley anxieties and embarrassment during the process.
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Do
not rush through the procedure.
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Be
gentle in your movements and pull the clothes not the person.
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The
most disabled limb should be dressed first and
undressed last. For example,
- when
taking out clothing, remove sleeve from the
unaffected arm first as the person can bend his
hand.
- put
on clean clothing by slipping in the sleeve from
the weak side first.
Tips:
Place the sleeve of the shirt as high as
possible on the person's shoulder of the affected arm to
facilitate dressing or undressing.
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Make use of simple dressing aids such as dressing stick,
long handled shoe horn and easi-reacher if available.
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Tips on Choosing and Modifying Clothing:
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Clothes
should be comfortable and loose-fitting.
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Avoid
back fastenings and tight-fitting garments if the person has limited
movement movement of his arms.
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Clothes
with front pocket is much more accessible if the person is sitting down
most of the time.
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Velcro
trips can be inserted in trouser seams if zips cause difficulty.
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Front-fastening
bras is useful for woman with arthritic hands or recuperating after a stroke.
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Cotton
is the ideal material because it absorbs perspiration well.
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