Safety Tips
- Dress a person while he or she is sitting. This prevents loss of balance during standing.
- Help the person select clothing that fits properly. With illness or a change in physical activity, weight loss or gain is not uncommon. People with osteoporosis actually lose height. A pair of pants that are too long, for example, might cause a person to trip and fall.
- A person with dementia who wishes to help with cooking should not wear loose sleeves that could catch fire.
- Have the person wear comfortable, non-slip shoes. The exception is people who shuffle, like those with Parkinson’s Disease and late stage Alzheimer’s Disease. They often do better with smooth, leather soles that glide. Rubber non-slip shoes may catch and stop, pitching the person forward and off balance.