Stroke Dressing Guide

 After a stroke, getting back to your daily routine can be a struggle, especially the process of getting dressed. How we dress is a means of showing our personality and staying positive. 

Adaptive clothing can help to avoid tricky fastenings, restricting shapes and allow for an all round less daunting experience. Discrete adaptations to clothes can transform lives, give back confidence and help to maintain your independence. 

The Stroke recommended clothing range for both women and men has been designed to provide style without the struggle for self dressing and also to ease the process of assisted dressing if you do require extra help.

Here are some of our top tips for easier dressing;

Front Opening Designs That Use VELCRO® Brand Fastening / Fasteners

If overhead dressing proves difficult, fully front opening options such as shirts, tops and nightwear provide a perfect solution. With the garment fully opened, you can use your unaffected arm to dress the affected side first. Then for undressing, take the garment off your unaffected side first then help to remove the affected side out.

If hand dexterity and strength is limited, avoid tricky fastenings such as buttons and zips by substituting these for touch-close alternatives such as VELCRO® Brand Fastening / Fasteners or poppers. The Able Label offers a vast range of front opening designs with secure VELCRO® Brand Fastening / Fasteners, designed to open and close with ease.

For an easier grip on your clothing with zips, apply a zipper pull which can help you 'hook' your fingers through.

Short sleeve styles are often the preferred option as they can provide ease of arm movement and a more casual feel. Wide opening sleeves such as raglan sleeves are designed with more room to feed your arms into. 

For women, fastening bras can be particularly tricky, as they traditionally do up at the back. Front opening bras make it a lot easier to reach and grip onto the fastenings. Choose bras that use VELCRO® Brand Fastening / Fasteners for added ease of touch closures.

Suggested Products:

Womenswear -  Beth Viscose Check Longline Long Sleeve VELCRO® Brand Fastening / Fasteners Shirt  Front Opening Bras  Raglan sleeve styles

Menswear - Michael Brushed Cotton Long Sleeve VELCRO® Brand Fastening / Fasteners Shirt in Grey Check  Michael Brushed Cotton Long Sleeve VELCRO® Brand Fastening / Fasteners Shirt in Red Gingham

Slippery Lining 

When looking for outerwear, bulky fastenings and stiff fabrics can make dressing into very restricting. Slippery and silky linings in clothing can help you to slip on styles, without having to manoeuvre limbs too much.

Suggested Products:

Womenswear- Marilyn Wool Blend Velcro Coat in Navy   Marilyn Wool Blend VELCRO® Brand Fastening / Fasteners Coat in Grey   Penelope Diamond Quilted Velcro Coat

Sleeveless & Looser Fitting Designs

Looser fitting styles with wider openings will make dressing much easier, and more comfortable. Sleeveless styles are even more ideal if you would prefer avoiding sleeves all together. Simply pop the wrap or poncho over your head and allow the garment to drape softly around you. 

Relaxed clothing can provide all day comfortable and stylish layering without feeling restricted. Knitted styles are an easy care option as they don't crease!

Wide opening sleeves such as raglan sleeves are perfect for comfortable daytime dressing, with more room to feed your arms into. 

Suggested Products:

Womenswear - Blanche Cable Knit Sleeveless Poncho  Lianne Luxury Wrap  Clarissa Stretch 3/4 Sleeve Jumper

Menswear - Anthony Brushed Cotton Placket Nightshirt with VELCRO® Brand Fastening / Fasteners

Comfortable Stretch Fabrics

For greater well-being and comfort, choose fabrics which move with the body rather than against. Super stretch fabrics including jerseys, and viscose with elastane, help make getting in and out of clothes much easier. Stretchy fabrics also give an easy feel and comfort of movement all day. 

Elasticated waistbands on trousers not only provide a little extra room, but also help when pulling them on for an easier stretch and staying up throughout the day.

To keep feet happy, warm and to avoid slipping at home, non-slip socks with grippy soles make walking a lot safer.

Suggested Products:

Womenswear- Jersey Long Sleeve Lounge Bundle  Imogen Jersey VELCRO® Brand Fastening / Fasteners Shirts  Ingrid Jersey Long Sleeve Printed VELCRO® Brand Fastening / Fasteners Shirt  Non-slip socks  

Menswear - Pete Short Sleeve VELCRO® Brand Fastening / Fasteners Polo Top    Bamboo Gentle Grip Mens Socks  Non-slip socks

Extra Tips For Easy Dressing >

Use your unaffected arm to dress the affected side first.

Prep ahead, by laying out your clothes before dressing.

Dress in a seated position or with the support of a rail or handle, in front of a mirror if possible.

Choose comfortable and stretchy clothing including elasticated waistbands

Use dressing aids for extra help e.g. long handled shoe horns

Discover stretch on/ magnetic accessories and jewellery or clip on earrings  with clip-on ties available for smart menswear outfitting

Wash adapted garments that utilise VELCRO® Brand Fastening / Fasteners with fastenings closed to maintain strength and to avoid the  VELCRO® Brand Fastening / Fasteners becoming damaged.

 

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