Struggling to find clothing that makes dressing easier for your loved one with ALS? You’re not alone.
Many people caring for ALS patients need adaptive clothing that accommodates decreasing mobility.
The good news is several options can help.
- Elastic waists, velcro closures, and magnets allow your loved one to dress more independently.
- Open-front shirts and side-zip pants prevent frustrating arm twisting.
- Fabrics like soft cotton and fleece feel gentle on sensitive skin.
Finding fashionable adaptive styles may seem difficult, but brands like Joe & Bella, Ovidis, and Resident Essentials offer professional options suitable for work and events.
With the right adaptive clothing, you can simplify daily dressing, boost confidence, and give your loved one a sense of normalcy.
How Does ALS Affect A Person’s Ability To Get Dressed?
Living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is undoubtedly challenging. With the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord deteriorating, the patient will find it difficult to perform daily tasks, including dressing and undressing.
Patients with ALS are mostly wheelchair-bound and need clothing to suit their condition. The person may be unable to move his/her limbs to dress and undress.
Hence, conventional clothing may not be the best for such patients. Adaptive clothing for disabled adults, including items specially designed for wheelchair users, is the best choice for your loved one suffering from ALS.
What Types Of Adaptive Clothing Are Helpful For People With ALS?
Dressing and undressing become challenging for patients with ALS. While buttons and zippers can be frustrating for some, others may struggle to reach arms through armholes or put legs through leg holes.
Wearing adaptive clothing that is easy to put on and take off will make their task easier and spare unnecessary aggravation and fatigue.
Here are some of the most common types of adaptive clothing for people with ALS:
- Pants with elastic waistbands or drawstrings
- French-cut underpants with wide leg openings – boxer shorts
- Garments that open in the front with roomy armholes
- Buttons sewn on with elastic thread are easier to manage
- Sewing fabric loops inside pants & underwear make pulling them on/off much easier
- Shoes without laces are easy to put on and take off
- Magnet closures can be used in shirts, pants, and other garments instead of buttons
- Many patients are sensitive to certain fabrics and should opt for comfortable fabrics
- Wearing calf-high leg warmers or knee-high fashion boots are ideal for hiding leg braces on skirt wearers
- Wheelchair patients find ponchos, short jackets, or capes more convenient compared to long coats
- Skirts or dresses can be cut fuller in the hips to prevent riding up when sitting.
For example, this video demonstrates several features of adaptive pants that benefit people with ALS specifically:
How Can Adaptive Clothing Help Caregivers Of Adults With ALS?
If your loved one requires help getting dressed and undressed, you should opt for adaptive clothing for your older adult. When an individual cannot dress or undress due to mobility issues, a caregiver can carry out the task quickly with adaptive clothing.
In fact, adaptive clothing is designed to make it easier for you to dress your loved one. Adaptive clothing features pants with cutbacks, shirts with Velcro and magnetic closures, shoes without laces, and more.
Where Can You Buy Adaptive Clothing For ALS Patients?
There are many places to buy adaptive clothing for ALS patients. If you are looking for some of the best places to buy adaptive clothing for your loved one, try out some of these places:
Joe & Bella
Use code GRACE to save 15%
Joe & Bella offers adaptive apparel designed to meet the evolving needs of people with ALS. Their clothing discreetly incorporates features like magnets, pull-on waists, and side zippers, providing easy accessibility as mobility decreases.
Driven by a desire to help preserve dignity and independence through fashion, Joe & Bella creates stylish designs that allow people with ALS to continue expressing themselves.
With adaptive styles catering to both changing physical abilities and personal tastes, Joe & Bella provides empowering clothing solutions for people with ALS seeking apparel that is both comfortable and reflective of their inherent sense of self.
Here is a video demonstrating their magnetic button-up dress shirt as an example of how their product makes dressing easier with ALS.
Related Reviews:
- Joe & Bella Freedom Chinos (Men and Women)
- Joe & Bella Everyday Elastic Waist Pants (Men and Women)
- Joe & Bella Magnetic Button Up Dress Shirt (Men and Women)
Resident Essentials
Use code Grace20 to save 10%
With over 20 years of experience, Resident Essentials specializes in adaptive clothing designed specifically for people with disabilities like ALS.
They offer a wide selection of comfortable, easy-to-wear options for both men and women, featuring modifications like velcro closures and side openings to simplify dressing.
Resident Essentials caters directly to nursing homes and facilities too, providing free services like shipping, name labeling, and rewards programs.
Their decades of focus solely on adaptive clothing makes Resident Essentials a leading choice for ALS patients and caregivers seeking quality, easy-to-wear adaptive clothes to improve daily living.
Related Review: Resident Essentials Elastic Waist Twill Pant (Men and Women)
Ovidis
Use code GWG10 to save 10% off regular prices.
Ovidis is a specialty manufacturer of clothing for people with physical or cognitive difficulties. They offer unique and innovative designs for easy and stress-free dressing by older adults, the disabled, or their caregivers.
Zappos
Zappos offers much more than adaptive shoes. They offer many adaptive clothing items as well from many of the popular adaptive clothing brands. Plus, they have an Advisory Council that reviews and selects the items they choose to sell.
Dignity Pajamas
Dignity Pajamas has created a nice niche in adaptive sleepwear for men and women. They offer many styles of sleepwear, including gowns with open backs and velcro closures.
Amazon Adaptive Clothing
Being one of the world’s largest retailers, Amazon offers a wide selection of adaptive clothing from many of the most popular manufacturers. Another benefit to purchasing from Amazon is their easy-to-navigate website and generous return policies.
Etsy
Etsy is a great place to find one-of-a-kind adaptive clothing pieces that aren’t mass-marketed. Some Etsy sellers even offer custom-made items for special situations or will make special sizes for larger or smaller people.
JCPenney
JCPenney offers a decent selection of adaptive clothing made by standard clothing manufacturers like St. John’s Ba, a.n.a., and Worthington. Plus sizes are available too.
You can also find adaptive clothing through brands dedicated specifically to the craft. A few examples include:
Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive
Perhaps a surprising addition to the list is well-known fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger who has a line of adaptive clothing for both adults and children. His shop is a great choice for the more fashion-forward person.
Seven7 Adaptive
This company focuses on creating stylish denim jeans that use adaptive technology like Velcro or elastic waistbands. Several of their styles are even wheelchair-friendly!
FAQs
Q: Can You Make Your Own Clothing for ALS Patients?
A: Yes. People with ALS have difficulty with fine motor actions or loss of muscle strength. The closure of the clothing plays an important part when making clothes for your loved one with ALS.
In fact, changing the closure of his/her existing clothing is often a minor adjustment and can make dressing and undressing easier for your loved one. Velcro closures can replace clasps that are difficult to handle.
The hook band of the Velcro should be placed on the side of the button. Now, sew the buttonhole closed & place a piece of velcro with loops on top. Lastly, sew the button on top of the buttonhole so that the garment looks normal.
When closing a zipper becomes difficult, you can replace the zipper with a magnetic zipper for convenience and comfort.
Q: How Can You Adapt Existing Clothing to Work Better for People With ALS?
A: You should extend the clothing openings and replace zippers and buttons with Velcro and magnetic closures. Sweaters, T-shirts, and blouses should have spacious arm openings, sleeves, and a large neckline.
It makes dressing and undressing easier for your loved one with ALS.
Q: Will Medicare or Medicaid Pay for Adaptive Clothing for ALS?
A: No. Medicare or Medicaid doesn’t pay for adaptive clothing for ALS patients. You should fund them using your private resources.
If your loved one suffers from ALS or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, dressing and undressing can be challenging for them. They will be wheelchair-bound most of the time and require caregiver assistance to perform daily tasks like dressing and undressing.
