Introduction
If you’re having difficulty getting dressed in the morning, it could be a sign of something more serious than just being forgetful. Dementia is a progressive brain disorder that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It can cause difficulty with everyday activities, such as getting dressed. In this article, we’ll discuss how to recognize the signs of dementia and what to do if you suspect you or a loved one may be suffering from it. We’ll also provide some tips on how to make dressing easier for those with dementia. Finally, we’ll provide some healthy eating tips to help keep your brain healthy and reduce your risk of developing dementia.
If You Do This When Dressing, Get Checked For Dementia
Dressing can be a difficult task for those with dementia. It can be hard to remember which items of clothing go together, and it can be difficult to remember how to put them on. If you or a loved one is having difficulty dressing, it may be a sign of dementia and it is important to get checked out.
Signs of Dressing Difficulties
If you or a loved one is having difficulty dressing, there are a few signs to look out for. These include:
- Putting clothes on backwards or inside out
- Mixing up clothing items, such as wearing a shirt with shorts
- Having difficulty with buttons, zippers, or other fasteners
- Forgetting to put on certain items of clothing
What to Do If You Notice Dressing Difficulties
If you or a loved one is having difficulty dressing, it is important to get checked out by a doctor. Dressing difficulties can be a sign of dementia, and it is important to get a diagnosis as soon as possible. The doctor will be able to assess the situation and provide advice on how to manage the dressing difficulties.
Tips for Managing Dressing Difficulties
There are a few tips that can help manage dressing difficulties. These include:
- Lay out clothes in the order they should be put on
- Label clothing items with pictures or words
- Use adaptive clothing with Velcro fasteners
- Provide verbal instructions and reminders
Dressing difficulties can be a sign of dementia, and it is important to get checked out if you or a loved one is having difficulty. There are also tips that can help manage dressing difficulties, such as laying out clothes in the order they should be put on and using adaptive clothing with Velcro fasteners.
More than 5.8 million Americans live with dementia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and while diagnosing dementia, which is described as the loss of cognitive functioning — thinking, remembering, and reasoning —to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities by the National Institute on Aging, can be a challenge at times, particularly in the early stages, there are signs to watch out for that indicate someone has the condition like have difficulty dressing. Eat This, Not That! Health talked with Dr. Elise Eifert, Assistant Professor, Gerontology Program, UNC Greensboro who explained the signs of dementia to watch out for and tips for how to help someone with dementia with dressing. Read on to find out more—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs COVID is Hurting You—Even After a Negative Test.
Dr. Eifert says, “There are many reasons why this could happen. The most likely cause is memory loss associated with dementia. The person may not realize that they have been in the same outfit for several days. There are also a number of mental and physical changes that could impede someone’s ability to dress and undress. Sometimes, the issue is that the person with dementia finds comfort and security in the familiarity of a singular outfit.”
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“Dressing and undressing requires numerous, sequenced steps,” says Dr. Eifert. “With dementia, the person may not remember the steps or become confused about next steps which can cause mistakes to happen like wearing underwear on the outside of the pants.”
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Dr. Eifert explains that, “Wearing clothing that is not appropriate for the weather or layering several articles of clothing on top of each other,” could be a sign of dementia.
“People with dementia do not self-regulate their body temperature well, so even if it is oppressively hot to you, they may be comfortable. People with dementia also have limited judgment so they may not realize that seasons have changed and that there are socially acceptable or practical ways to dress for the environment.
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According to Dr. Eifert, “People with dementia can become overwhelmed by the many choices that a wardrobe provides which can cause frustration and anxiety. Additionally, the person may not remember how to dress or get overwhelmed by the task itself which prevents them from selecting clothes to put on.”
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The National Institute on Aging has the following suggestions for dressing:
“People with Alzheimer’s disease often need more time to dress.. It can be hard for them to choose their clothes. They might wear the wrong clothing for the season. They also might wear colors that don’t go together or forget to put on a piece of clothing. Allow the person to dress on his or her own for as long as possible.
Other tips for dressing:
- Lay out clothes in the order the person should put them on, such as underwear first, then pants, then a shirt, and then a sweater.
- Hand the person one thing at a time, or give step-by-step dressing instructions.
- Put away some clothes in another room to reduce the number of choices. Keep only one or two outfits in the closet or dresser.
- Keep the closet locked if needed.
- Buy three or four sets of the same clothes if the person wants to wear the same clothing every day.
- Buy loose-fitting, comfortable clothing, such as sports bras, cotton socks and underwear, and sweat pants and shorts with elastic waistbands.
- Avoid girdles, control-top pantyhose, knee-high nylons, high heels, and tight socks.
- Use Velcro® tape or large zipper pulls for clothing instead of shoelaces, buttons, or buckles.
- Try slip-on shoes that won’t slide off or shoes with Velcro® straps.” And to live your healthiest life, don’t miss this life-saving advice I’m a Doctor and Here’s the #1 Sign You Have Cancer.