As Parkinson’s disease progresses, the inability to control voluntary movement, especially fine movement, makes common activities exceedingly difficult. Before Parkinson’s disease begins a person’s primary concerns regarding clothing may be fit and fashion; clothing choices after Parkinson’s begins are selections based on ease of wear. Buttons, zippers, and belts can be impossible to manage, pantyhose and neckties a nightmare. Elastic waists, pullover shirts and tops, and hook-and-loop fasteners (such as Velcro) are far less frustrating, as are slip-on shoes instead of shoes with laces. Men might find it easier to wear boxers instead of briefs, and women to opt for camisoles or T-shirts instead of bras. Fabrics can make a difference, too, in ease of putting on, comfort while wearing, and ease of laundering. Lighter jersey cotton knits slip on more easily than heavier sweat shirt kinds of fabrics and are convenient to layer for warmth as well as quick removal if desired.
The easier items of clothing are for the person with Parkinson’s to put on and take off, the more independent the person can remain. Laying out clothing in the order in which the person will put it on eases the frustration of moving around to find items. it also encourages the person to sit on the edge of a bed or on a chair to get dressed. As balance and postural instability are problems for nearly everyone with Parkinson’s, sitting to dress reduces the risk of falls. For some people, this means learning new methods after years of other habits. until impairment forces the matter, most people do not even think about the processes of everyday activities such as getting dressed and often do not realize how much they rely on steadiness and balance to step into a pair of pants or align the buttons of a blouse. It is helpful to maintain creativity and a sense of humor about clothing options and the process of dressing and undressing.
Selections of adaptive clothing are improving as the demand for them increases and generally offer the same range of styles and fashions as regular clothing. There are retailers that specialize in adaptive clothing or provide clothes for people who have special needs. Many of these offer mail order and online shopping. Some styles of clothing are designed for easy on/easy off dressing, such as athletic warm-up pants with snap-away sides and loose-fitting tops. As styles have become more casual and people wear athletic clothing just about everywhere, manufacturers have broadened the color and variety of clothing items that are available. Western-style shirts for men and women typically have snaps, which are easier to manage than buttons.
Other options are to replace buttons on existing clothing with snaps or to sew hook-and-loop fasteners under buttons so the buttons are still there for appearance but the hook-and-loop fasteners do the job of holding the garment closed. For women, elastic-waist skirts are easier to manage than dresses. Elastic-waist pants for women are available in a broad range of styles from jeans to fashionable dress slacks and are a good option when replacing pantyhose with knee-high stockings or socks.
