Physical challenges

• Strength and control: a weaker arm or leg makes lifting, threading, and pulling clothing slow and shaky. Fine finger work for buttons, zips, and clasps is tough.
• Spasticity and stiffness: tight muscles catch on sleeves, trouser legs, and socks. Movements that need to be smooth become jerky.
• Balance and posture: standing on one leg to pull on trousers or socks is risky. Bending to feet can trigger dizziness or falls.
• Range of movement and pain: shoulders, hips, and backs may not reach where they used to. Overhead items like jumpers and coats can pinch or sublux a shoulder.
• One-handed reality: fastening a bra, starting a zip, tying laces, and steadying fabric all at once is a puzzle when one hand does most of the work.

Sensory and thinking load

• Reduced sensation or neglect: the affected arm or leg can be “out of sight, out of mind”. It is easy to miss a sleeve or wear clothing twisted.
• Vision and perception: double vision, field loss, or spatial problems make aligning edges and fastenings slow.
• Planning and sequencing: dressing has many steps. Fatigue or brain fog means steps get missed or done in the wrong order.
• Apraxia and aphasia: knowing what you want to do but not getting the body to do it, or not finding the right words to ask for help, adds frustration.

Emotional pressure

• Time stress: mornings feel like a race. Rushing leads to unsafe shortcuts and mistakes.
• Identity and dignity: needing help for underwear or intimate tasks can sting. Small failures early in the day can colour the mood for hours.

Environmental barriers

• Space and setup: no solid chair with arms, low lighting, cluttered floors, or wardrobes set too high make simple tasks harder.
• Clothing design: small buttons, narrow cuffs, stiff fabrics, long ties, and back fastenings turn into daily obstacles.

Where it most often bites

• Socks and shoes: reaching feet, opening socks wide, dealing with swelling, and managing laces.
• Bras and underwear: back clasps, narrow leg holes, and waistbands that roll.
• Buttons and zips: starting the zip box, holding fabric steady, and aligning small fastenings.
• Layers and coats: heavy sleeves, lining that sticks, and hoods that block vision.

For family and friends

• The urge to take over is strong, but control matters. Set up the space, offer calm prompts, and step in only for the bit that is unsafe.
• Agree a time window that respects fatigue. Fewer choices are kinder than many when energy is low.