• Allow plenty of time for dressing. Hurrying can lead to stress and frustration, which can end up slowing you down.
• Do a few stretching exercises before getting dressed to prime and "warm up" muscles.
• Get dressed while sitting. Choose a stable chair with firm back support and sturdy arms.
• Don’t sit on the edge of the bed to dress. It can be easy to lose your balance while sitting on an unstable mattress, and this is a fall risk.
• Use a footstool to make it easier to put on shoes and socks.
• Avoid socks with tight elastic bands. Ill-fitting footwear can cause circulation issues or become a trip hazard.
• Socks with non-skid soles should replace bathroom slippers, which can easily slide off of feet.
• Wear lightweight, supportive shoes with non-slip soles and Velcro closures or elastic shoelaces to make it easy to put on and take off shoes.
Medical content reviewed by: Nina Browner, MD—Medical Director of the NPF Center of Excellence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in North Carolina and by Fernando Pagan, MD—Medical Director of the NPF Center of Excellence at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C.
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• Do a few stretching exercises before getting dressed to prime and "warm up" muscles.
• Get dressed while sitting. Choose a stable chair with firm back support and sturdy arms.
• Don’t sit on the edge of the bed to dress. It can be easy to lose your balance while sitting on an unstable mattress, and this is a fall risk.
• Use a footstool to make it easier to put on shoes and socks.
• Avoid socks with tight elastic bands. Ill-fitting footwear can cause circulation issues or become a trip hazard.
• Socks with non-skid soles should replace bathroom slippers, which can easily slide off of feet.
• Wear lightweight, supportive shoes with non-slip soles and Velcro closures or elastic shoelaces to make it easy to put on and take off shoes.
Medical content reviewed by: Nina Browner, MD—Medical Director of the NPF Center of Excellence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in North Carolina and by Fernando Pagan, MD—Medical Director of the NPF Center of Excellence at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C.