Sorting Clothing

It’s difficult to know how much or what kind of clothing another person needs. Touching their skin might give you an indication whether they are too hot or too cold, but you can’t actually experience how they feel yourself.

Look at their current clothing; it will provide you with the best indication of your relative’s needs and the style they like to wear.

Initially your relative will only need the amount of top clothing that they would need if they were going on holiday unless they have already made up their mind to stay in the home permanently. Even then it is better to take only the clothing you think they will want to wear during the trial period rather than everything in their wardrobe.

Choose appropriate clothing for the season, eg for summer choose a mixture, some summer clothes with some warm items because the weather is often more like winter than summer! Make sure the clothes are comfortable and still fit.

Take only as many clothes as will fit in the single wardrobe that has been provided.

As you sort through your relative’s clothing discard any old and worn out items. Many elderly people neglect to renew their threadbare and torn clothes due to financial constraints. Any such essential items will need to be replaced.

Buying New Clothing

When buying new clothes for your relative consider:

• Is it washable or dry clean only?
• Can it be washed in a commercial washing machine?
• Can it be tumble dried?
• Is it colour fast?
• Will it shrink, lose its shape or crease out of all recognition?
• Is thermal underwear really necessary? It doesn’t always wash well in a commercial washing machine and should not be dried in a tumble drier.
• Consider whether your relative needs special, easy to get on clothing especially if they suffer from painful arthritis or other disability which causes pain and distress when they try to struggle into tight clothes.

 

 

For a list of basic clothing see Figure 12.

Handwash And Dry Clean Only Garments

These items can get mixed up with machine washable laundry and are ruined. You may be asked to take the responsibility for this type of clothing by caring for them yourself.

If the home undertakes to send the clothes to be dry cleaned, the cost will almost certainly be added to your relative’s monthly bill.

You may find the list below helpful. Each person will have their own needs so adjust the list to suit your relatives.

Buying Bathroom Toiletries

Favourite toiletries help to boost your relative’s morale, sustain their self esteem and maintain their individuality.

The list in Figure 13 which is not exhaustive, suggests some items which you might feel are appropriate for your relative to take into the home with them.

Marking Personal Property

Everything your relative takes with them needs to be marked, even handkerchiefs, tights or stockings, shoes and slippers. Marking clothes is more tedious and time-consuming than difficult.

Prostheses

Prostheses are artificial parts supplied to remedy a deficiency, eg dentures. Dentures are not usually a problem to insert but a false eye may be. Everybody is different and has their own way of doing things. To eliminate any trauma or discomfort to your relative, if they use such a prosthesis ask the matron if the staff would like them or yourself (if you are able and don’t mind teaching) to demonstrate the easiest and best way to insert and remove the eye prosthesis as necessary.

The same thing would apply to relatives who had any other kind of prosthesis or appliance because if they are not put on properly they will cause discomfort, soreness and pain.




Some prostheses are easy to mark but dentures and eyes are not. Your relative may have containers for these items when they are not in use, which can be marked with your relative’s name.

Dentures can be labelled by a skilled dental technician. There would be a charge for this but it is not a set amount. Seek advice from your dental surgeon or if this is difficult you can go direct to a dental laboratory. If your dental practice cannot supply you with the name and address of a dental laboratory you should be able to find them listed in Yellow Pages. You may have to go into your nearest town to find one.