Adaptive clothing suggestions?

[Doing My Best]

Hi all, I am looking for suggestions for adaptive clothing or ways to modify regular clothing to make getting dressed easier on both CALS and PALS. My PALS, Steve, is nearly completely paralyzed from the neck down, and also has limited range of motion in his arms and shoulders. I got a great tip from the Current Caregivers forum from Tomswife a few months back that led me to some zip-up-the-side wheelchair pants, which are the only thing PALS wears now. I'm still struggling with shirts, though, and I thought I'd reach out for some ideas on those.

For shoes, I just discovered billyfootwear dot com, which has a wide range of mens' and women's styles that are easy to put on. I just got Steve some that look like nice quality running shoes that zip all around the top so that they can be opened and the foot placed in, then zipped up, instead of having to push the foot forward.

Still looking for the ideal shirt solution. Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive has a couple of things that are helpful but it's super expensive stuff and there aren't a lot of options.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

 

[lgelb]

We kept going with regular dress shirts (going up on the size for both ease of putting on and comfort in the wheelchair) when going out, but there are adaptive versions, nothing fancy, available at adaptive clothing sites, that have snaps or velcro, in front or in back. Check the Buck & Buck and Adaptive Clothing Showroom sites as examples.

When not going out, Larry sometimes wore a Back Snap Undershirt Vest with a wheelchair poncho or blanket.

 

[richdees23]

I remember the Tommy Hilfiger clothing can get pretty pricey. A friend turned me on to wareologiedotcom. They sell magnetic button adapters. I was pleased with those. Everybody's different, but these days I don't get out much and have few visitors. I'm strictly a towel wrap guy and a kilt wearer. I split my time between my power wheelchair and bed. I've adapted a mantra of 'the easier the better'.

 

[Doing My Best]

Thanks for the suggestions - I agree with the easier the better! A kilt - that sounds like a great idea.

 

[richdees23]

It took me a while to find them because I was looking for Velcro ones. Eventually, Amazon started carrying them. There's a couple of different styles. That's also where I get towel wraps, also Velcro.

 

[Becky W]

Silverts.com is a good place to look. They have shirts that open in the back, overlap, and snap at the shoulders. They also have adaptive pants that are good.

 

[Doing My Best]

Becky, just reporting back that Silverts was a good suggestion and we've gotten several kinds of shirts from there which have made getting dressed and undressed easier. I also cut a bunch of t-shirts down the back to use as sleep shirts, which can just be put on from the front and left tucked in at the sides since he's not rolling over or anything. Sometimes it's the little things that make a difference - just one less source of stress.

 

[SeaGunny]

Regrading billyfootwear dot com. I visited this web site and found they had a sale! Not knowing exactly my wife's (PALS) shoe size, I bought 3 different pairs in "around her size". None fit! She has significantly wider feet. While I had a lucky day getting her these 3 pairs of adaptive footwear - NONE fit! I suggest contacting the vendor with what one requires. The 3 pairs I bought (altogether) were cheaper than the new ones being sold. My concern was and is, that she has wounds on her foot that need to be protected - but even without the bandages, her feet were still to wide for the base of the shoe. Heels fit well, but not the broadest section of her foot.

Kilt? I may get a kilt. Might look good with my cowboy boots and Stetson (yes - that is the brand of my cowboy hat!)

 

[lgelb]

For wide feet, Propet makes what I'd call Velcro slipper shoes in narrow to wide widths, for men and women, and they are stretchy for comfort.

 

[SeaGunny]

Thanks, I will check it out. My PALS wants traction. She feels scared and unsteady if her feet do not "stick" to the floor.

 

[Nikki J]

Check out orthofeet dot com too.