Published 27 April 2026 · Last updated 25 August 2026
Why Getting Dressed Can Become Difficult
Conditions like arthritis, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and general frailty can make dressing one of the most frustrating daily tasks. Buttons are fiddly, socks are hard to reach, zips require dexterity, and pulling clothes over your head may cause pain or dizziness. Dressing aids and adaptive clothing are designed to overcome these specific challenges, helping you dress independently or with minimal help from a carer.
Essential Dressing Aids
Long-handled shoe horns: A 45-60cm shoe horn lets you put on shoes without bending down, reducing strain on the back and hips. Metal versions are more durable than plastic. Costs from ยฃ3-10.
Sock and stocking aids: A flexible plastic gutter or frame that holds the sock open while you slide your foot in, with long handles or cords to pull it up. Essential after hip replacement when bending restrictions apply. The Etac Socky and the Homecraft Stocking Aid are popular models (ยฃ5-15).
Button hooks and zip pulls: A button hook is a small wire loop on a handle that threads through the buttonhole, hooks the button, and pulls it through. A zip pull is a ring or handle that clips onto a zip slider. This makes it easier to grip. Combined button hook/zip pull tools cost around ยฃ3-8.
Dressing sticks: A long stick with a hook on one end and a push-cup on the other. Used to pull clothes onto shoulders, push sleeves off, and hook waistbands. Useful for people with limited shoulder movement or those who cannot reach behind their back.
Elastic shoelaces: Convert lace-up shoes into slip-ons. The laces stretch to allow the foot in and then spring back to hold the shoe snug. No tying required. From ยฃ3-6 per pair.
Adaptive and Easy-Wear Clothing
The adaptive clothing market has grown significantly in the UK. Key features to look for include magnetic closures instead of buttons (look identical to regular buttons but close with hidden magnets), Velcro fastenings hidden behind a button placket for a normal appearance, side-opening trousers and skirts that open fully for seated dressing, front-fastening bras with magnetic or hook closures, and open-back tops and nightwear for people who dress while seated.
UK brands specialising in adaptive clothing include Able2Wear, Silvert’s, IZ Adaptive, and Adaptawear. Many high-street retailers are also beginning to offer adaptive ranges. M&S has introduced easy-dressing features in some children’s and men’s lines.
Tips for Easier Dressing
Sit down to dress rather than standing, which is safer and uses less energy. Dress your weaker or painful side first and undress it last. Lay clothes out in the order you will put them on. Choose loose-fitting, stretchy fabrics that are easier to pull on and off. Avoid clothes that go over the head if you have shoulder problems, and opt for front-fastening tops instead. Slip-on shoes eliminate the need for bending to tie laces.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most useful dressing aid?
A long handled shoe horn and a sock aid, because feet are what most people lose access to first, and both are inexpensive. After that a dressing stick and a button hook cover most of the remaining difficulties.
How does a sock aid work?
You put the sock over a curved plastic or fabric gutter, drop it to the floor, put your foot in, and pull it up by the cords. It takes a few attempts to learn and is genuinely awkward the first time, so practise sitting down before deciding it does not work.
What clothing is easiest to manage?
Anything that opens fully at the front, larger buttons or magnetic fastenings, elasticated waists and wide necklines. Adaptive clothing sold for the purpose helps, but so does simply choosing ordinary clothes with these features, which is cheaper and does not look different.
Are there aids for dressing after a hip replacement?
Yes, and this is the classic use. A reacher, a long handled shoe horn and a sock aid together let you dress without bending past the angle you have been told to avoid. Your surgical team or physiotherapist will tell you the specific restrictions and how long they last.
Can someone with one working hand dress independently?
Usually yes, with technique as much as equipment. Dressing the weaker side first, using a dressing stick to bring clothing round, and choosing front fastening items covers most of it. An occupational therapist can teach the sequence, which matters more than the gadgets.
Are magnetic fastenings safe with a pacemaker?
Magnets used in clothing fastenings are strong enough to warrant care around implanted devices. Guidance for pacemakers and defibrillators is generally to keep magnets away from the device site, so check with the clinic that fitted it before buying magnetic shirts.
Sources & Useful Resources
Published 27 April 2026 · Last updated 25 August 2026