Un-dressing issues

Maryjane01

Dear all,

has anyone found a good strategy to keep a person with advanced dementia (FTD) dressed? My dad is still ok with keeping his clothes on when we are outside or at the groundfloor (with a lot of talking from us explaining this is absolutely necessary for XYZ reason, trying to make him laugh etc.) but it's becoming impossible to keep him dressed on his floor where he has the room and living room. It's ok in the sense that this is not a risky behaviour, but difficult to make it accettable for nurses etc if it's a constant thing.

Thank you for anyone who might have found good strategies for this (or simply sharing the same struggle among so many others)

M1

Hi Maryjane. Look at buckandbuck.com for clothing options that open in the back. They are meant to be hard to take off.

harshedbuzz

@Maryjane01

Another vote for Buck and Buck adaptive clothing— jumpsuits (that look like clothing) and onesies are the answer.

https://www.buckandbuck.com/mens-clothing/jumpsuits/back-zip-jumpsuits.html

Maryjane01

I will definitely try this. It's so great to know there are people out there inventing such things. I feel very grateful to these inventors :-) and to you for directing me there.

Maryjane01

Follow-up question: any recommendation on how to get him used to it? my dad has FTD (semantic variant) and imposing things makes him very anxious and nervous. If you have any tip on how to make this transition to the back-zip jumpsuit in the best and most sensitive way for him, I'd be very grateful to have some advices.

Anya Sac.

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/70507/un-dressing-issues

my mom also takes her clothes off and when a zipper gets stuck or something else happens that makes it hard for her to take her clothes off when she wants them off, she gets noticeably anxious. Fortunately she is home so I can let her have her clothes off and when we go out and she wants to take them off it’s usually because she is too warm and then I try to distract her. Sometimes it works and sometimes not. Sometimes she is cooperating with having a loose fitting robe on so I keep one handy. It’s not considered appropriate” wear outside but I’m ok with that. Hope that helps. Also try very soft fabric and different colors he may prefer or want to avoid. She resists anything that’s not soft and light colored.

Anya Sac.

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/70507/un-dressing-issues

my mom also takes her clothes off and when a zipper gets stuck or something else happens that makes it hard for her to take her clothes off when she wants them off, she gets noticeably anxious.  Fortunately she is home so I can let her have her clothes off and when we go out and she wants to take them off it’s usually because she is too warm and then I try to distract her.  Sometimes it works and sometimes not.  Sometimes she is cooperating with having a loose fitting robe on so I keep one handy.  It’s not considered appropriate” wear outside but I’m ok with that. Hope that helps.  Also try very soft fabric and different colors he may prefer or want to avoid.  She resists anything that’s not soft and light colored. 

Maryjane01

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/221828#Comment_221828

very useful, thank you!!

clarinetist

My DH wears the adaptive clothing. The first time he wore it he tried to tear it off because he couldn’t figure out what was happening. Now he knows that he has to get someone to help him unzip the back. Another thing that helps is that the aides have him on a bathroom schedule (every two hours).