Textiles: clothing in care

There are more than four million people in need of care in Germany, and for every one of them there are one or more caregivers. Discussions about their situation often focus on the right equipment, such as care beds, walkers or drinking cups. But one factor for pleasant and professional care is often forgotten – clothing.

It makes sense to think about special care textiles in nursing for two reasons. One is that conventional clothing is designed to be put on independently. However, people with care needs are often dressed, which is not always easy, depending on their size and severity. The clothing should therefore be easy for caregivers to put on. This also benefits those in need of care, as dressing and changing is much quicker. It is also an important measure for caregivers, as it reduces their physical strain. This is important, especially in nursing homes and for care services that look after more than one person.

But what else makes good care textiles? Manuel Käppler, operational business manager of suprima GmbH, also starts by emphasizing: "The main task of care clothing or textiles in general is to facilitate the work of the caregiver. It provides easier access to the body for personal hygiene and/or changing incontinence material, dressings, compression stockings et cetera. This eliminates the need to completely undress patients".

Depending on the person, nursing garments should vary. But which should be chosen? Käppler: "The decisive factor is not directly the clinical picture, but rather the patient's associated behavior: For example, in the case of incontinence and compulsive undressing, which can lead to hypothermia if it occurs unnoticed during the night. Involuntary removal of incontinence material and smearing of stool is also part of it." The solution to this can be, for example, one-piece pajamas called nursing overalls that do not slip and are not easy to remove on their own.

What clothing is chosen for the person in need of care therefore depends very much on their limitations and also personal taste. Purely bedridden persons are dependent on different clothing than those who are still mobile. Senior citizens with limited mobility often do well with loose-fitting pants and tops without buttons. However, perhaps hip protector briefs are useful because falls have already occurred. Others, due to incontinence (click here for a separate Topic of the Month about incontinence on REHACARE.com), need special underwear to get them through the day and extra protection at night. Depending on the degree of severity, there are different models: slip-on briefs for mobile persons and button-on for lying patients. The product selection for the care sector is quite large. Depending on the situation, different solutions can and should be used. The comfort of the person in need of care must be reconciled with the needs of the caregiver.