Mom with macular degeneration tends to put clothes on that are stained/dirty. Suggestions?

I tried hiding the stained tops, but she remembers and starts asking for them. Since she hardly ever leaves the house, I just let her be. I'm only concerned when we go somewhere.

I kinda agree with Capnhardass here. Kinda . It is just that I rememeber one time in college I was waiting on a table -I worked at a Chinese restaurant in college -and a young couple came in. They both had mental retardation. They were with it enough to go out unattended but just barely. The man could not talk very well at all and the young lady was dressed in pants up to just below her bosom with a tucked in blouse and pig tails -lopsided on her head and bright red lipstick smeared on. I brought them their menus and the young lady said "well, we can't read!!" --like -"HELLO-we have mental retardation !!". It was cute. Anyway I ordered sweet and sour chicken for them and helped them pay and they were very happy. And as they walked out I remember thinking-"whoever is in charge of those two should really make sure they dress more normal and fix that poor girl's hair!".

Well fast forward 25 years and I have a young lady with mental retardation and she loves to wear what she loves to wear. She hates all jeans and will only wear elastic pants and she loves to wear her tee shirts tucked up on the back only. -She hates having her hair brushed so we keep it short and simple and she feels beautiful. She walks around like she owns the world. Funny how life works out.

So IDK. If Mom feels really pretty in a certain blouse or outfit maybe let her keep it. But if it is really not something she is attached to and you can swap it out for an unstained one maybe do that. I think you have to weigh the pros and cons and not worry about what the public image thinks. But, I say that while admitting I do try and get my girl to untuck her backside . :^0 ;0)

Been there! This is an ongoing problem in our house. Mom is basically home bound of her own free will, she feels more comfortable being at home so working in the yard she wears work clothes and shoes, but she wears them all the time so we have to wait until she hops in the shower and steal them so we can wash them. We have bought her new clothes and even hemmed the pants and she refuses to wear them. When we just HAVE to go see her doctor is is horrible trying to get her to wear newer decent clothes, she gets angry and everyone had better watch out!!! I feel for you and I know how you feel! We just keep trying.

marykay3147, please consider shopping for your mom at your local Goodwill or any local secondhand shop. I can't begin to endorse them highly enough! I have found so many things for myself there; plenty of items for my mom who lives in a nursing home & they are low cost, CLEAN, stain-free and suitable to wear immediately. If you feel strange wearing donated clothing then wash it once you get home. And, if you shop at Goodwill, you are helping employ many developmentally disabled adults so it's a win-win situation. Please consider it! I purchase and make donations at my two local Goodwills frequently.

I disagree with Capnhardass. It isn't about my vanity or concern about Mom embarassing me. I take pride in keeping my mother properly cleaned and clothed. It's a matter of preserving her diginity and personal pride in her appearance even if she no longer makes that "connection" in her brain or through her eyes. I do agree with the other respondents about doing an 'exchange ' of old clothes for cleaner or newer ones, or holding her in front of a mirror. From personal experience, my mother's dementia causes her to have less and less concern about her clothing, so I have to be concerned for her. I consider it my duty and glad I am able to do it.

sounds like your more concerned about mom embarassing you instead of herself. swallow your vanity and put the patient first. thats my opinion.

Buy her new clothes and simply do an exchange! I frequently go through my Mom's clothes to do the same thing (but usually it is more about reduction than an exchange!). Trust me, who would not want to wear a white clean shirt versus a soiled one?

her clothes are clean but stained from years of wearing them - she can't see the stains because her vision is very poor. I have suggested buying new clothes but she says she is happy with her old clothes.

Why don't you wash her clothes for her? Do you live with her?

You can also tell your Mom that you won't take her shopping unless she changes her dirty clothing. Hold up a mirror to her so she can see for herself that she is dirty.