As people age, tasks that were once routine can become increasingly difficult, including getting dressed. Older adults often face challenges due to arthritis, reduced flexibility, balance issues, and limited dexterity that can make using traditional buttons, zippers, or shoelaces difficult, painful, or frustrating. For family caregivers, these dressing challenges can also be time-consuming and hard to manage. Fortunately, adaptive clothing offers a solution that can help older adults maintain their dignity and independence and can make dressing a loved one easier for a family caregiver. Here is what you need to know about adaptive clothes. We also share some popular adaptive clothing brands with the best features to help make getting dressed easier and safer.
What is adaptive clothing?
Adaptive clothing is designed for people with physical limitations, such as reduced mobility and dexterity. Some adaptive clothing is specifically for seniors, while others address certain physical challenges or disabilities.
Key features of adaptive clothing include:
- Magnetic buttons or closures that replace buttons to help those with arthritis or limited dexterity or to simplify dressing for caregivers.
- Velcro fastenings that eliminate the need for fine motor skills.
- Open-back designs that allow caregivers to dress someone without raising their arms or requiring them to stand.
- Elastic waistbands that allow individuals to sit while putting on their pants.
- Side zippers to accommodate products like catheter bags.
- Hands-free or slip-on footwear to eliminate laces and reduce fall risks.
Types of adaptive clothing
Adaptive clothing is available in most categories. Here are some examples of adaptive clothing types, including the features that make them easier for older adults or caregivers to use.
- Pants and shorts:
- Common features: Side zippers, magnetic flies, elastic waistbands.
- How they help: They can simplify seated dressing, making them ideal for adults who have balance issues, cannot stand, use mobility aids, or experience stiffness. They are also helpful for caregivers assisting with toileting or hygiene routines.
- Shirts and blouses:
- Common features: Magnetic buttons, Velcro closures, shoulder zippers.
- How they help: They reduce the need to use fine motor skills or raise arms. Caregivers can assist without pulling clothing over the head, which is especially helpful for individuals with a limited range of motion.
- Shoes and footwear:
- Common features: Velcro straps, step-in design, hands-free design.
- How they help: They eliminate the need to tie or bend, which is beneficial for seniors with balance or dexterity issues. They are also easier and faster for caregivers to put on and take off.
- Jackets and outerwear:
- Common features: Magnetic zippers, cape styles.
- How they help: They are easy to put on and remove, even if the person uses a wheelchair.
- Dresses and skirts:
- Common features: Wrap-around designs, open-back closures.
- How they help: They enable easier dressing while seated and allow caregivers to maintain their loved one’s modesty while helping them dress.
- Undergarments:
- Common features: Front-closure bras, side-opening or open-back underwear.
- How they help: They allow for easier dressing or assistance with toileting and hygiene.
- Sleepwear and loungewear:
- Common features: Pull-on loops, open-back designs.
- How they help: They prioritize comfort while simplifying overnight changes or dressing in bed.
Top adaptive clothing brands
Finding adaptive clothing is a lot easier today than it was in the past. Several online retailers offer adaptive clothing, allowing you to choose garments that fit your needs and personal style. Here are nine of the top brands selling adaptive clothing, including companies that exclusively sell clothing with older adults in mind, popular clothing brands that have adaptive options, and brands that cater specifically to certain needs.
Silverts
Silverts offers a wide range of adaptive clothing for men and women, including options for self-dressing and assisted dressing. You can shop by clothing type, such as tops, pants, and footwear, as well as by need, such as wheelchair clothing and arthritis apparel. We especially like their women’s cardigans and their selection of men’s and women’s nightgowns with back openings. They also have a special line of anti-strip Alzheimer’s jumpsuits that feature a caregiver-friendly design with a zipper at the back to prevent individuals from disrobing.
Buck & Buck
Buck & Buck is a long-standing company that offers adaptive clothing focused on comfort and ease. They offer Velcro shirts and pants, which can be a great alternative to snap, magnetic, and tie closures. Their clothing often features Velcro closures, elastic waists, and innovative back- or side-opening designs that simplify dressing for both the wearer and caregiver. For example, their Women’s Printed Adaptive Sweatsuit has a top that opens in the back and side-zip pants for easy assisted dressing, while the Men’s Short Sleeve Denim Shirt With Velcro Fasteners allows for easy self-dressing. These thoughtful adaptations make Buck & Buck a trusted choice for families and care facilities alike.
Joe & Bella
Joe & Bella is a modern adaptive clothing brand that focuses on comfort, style, and innovation for older adults and people with mobility or medical needs. One standout item is their CareZips pants for men and women. They feature a three-zipper system with two side zippers and one along the inseam to make dressing, toileting, and catheter access easier without removing the pants entirely.
IZ Adaptive
IZ Adaptive is a leader in inclusive fashion. They offer stylish and functional clothing specifically designed for wheelchair users and individuals with limited mobility. Their tops are cut “with a slight A-line, allowing the drape to fall naturally without feeling tight” and have back snaps so you can put shirts on without lifting your arms. Pants are made to prevent bunching. They do not have rivets or pockets, and many have seamless backs to reduce discomfort and the risk of developing pressure sores for people who sit for long periods of time, such as people who use wheelchairs or scooters.
MagnaReady
MagnaReady is the original magnetic apparel company. They focus on shirts, pants, dresses, and outerwear that feature magnetic closures, which are a great option for those who have arthritis, limited dexterity, or mobility challenges. Their clothing features hidden magnetic closures that replace traditional buttons, making it easier to dress independently. Popular options include magnetic button-down shirts and polos for men and magnetic cardigans and flannels for women.
No Limbits
No Limbits is an innovative adaptive clothing brand that designs pants and apparel specifically for people with limb differences, prosthetics, braces, or conditions like lymphedema and diabetic neuropathy as well as for people with limited dexterity. Their Unlimbited bottoms feature inseam zippers on both legs to accommodate prosthetics and braces. They also have clothes designed for people with limited dexterity, like these leggings that are easy to pull on with large waistband loops. No Limbits also offers wheelchair clothing and sensory-friendly options for those who are particular about rubbing, chafing, and seam placement.
Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive
Tommy Hilfiger has a dedicated line of adaptive clothing designed in a classic, American-cool style. Shirts, pants, and dresses look exactly like their non-adaptive counterparts, but they include features like hidden zippers, magnetic buttons, magnetic shoulder closures, elastic pull-on loops, and wide-opening necklines to make dressing easier.
Nike
Nike offers several easy-on sneaker options. For example, the Nike Air Force 1 ’07 EasyOn for women and men features a “flexible heel [that] collapses when you step in then snaps back into place, making it easy to slip on and off” without having to bend down. Nike also offers a special sneaker design called the FlyEase. This laceless shoe has “a heel that pivots open for a totally hands-free entry … [making them] great for people with limited mobility.”
Skechers
Skechers offers a line of Hands Free Slip-ins with elastic laces and their exclusive Heel Pillow that holds your foot securely in place, allowing you to step into your shoes without bending over or tying and untying laces. They come in many different styles and suit different purposes, such as work shoes, casual shoes, athletic shoes, and even sandals.
Find the adaptive clothing that fits your personal style
Whether you’re an older adult looking to maintain independence or a caregiver supporting a loved one, adaptive clothing can improve ease and quality of life. These garments reduce discomfort, lower the risk of injury, and preserve dignity during a personal part of daily life. With a growing number of brands offering functional and fashionable choices, it’s easier than ever to find adaptive clothing that suits personal needs and style. By choosing the right adaptive pieces, both older adults and their caregivers can experience greater comfort and confidence in their everyday routines.
