Living Independently
Dressing Up for Winter
Adaptive Clothing Can Make the Outdoors Fun
by Lisa Schmidtke
There’s
no excuse for being underdressed
this winter—whatever your particular needs. That’s because of the
wealth of innovative entrepreneurs out there. Take Dawn Wells, for example. Who
would have known as we were watching Gilligan and his crazy band of castaways
marooned on a deserted island that Mary Ann would turn out to be the true savior.
But it’s true! Dawn Wells may have played a scantily clad, happy-go-lucky
castaway but, since then, she’s been hard at work creating Wishing Wells
Collections. Inspired by her aging grandmother, this adaptive clothing collection
includes innovative alternatives to typical fasteners. Many of her pieces are
reversible back-to-front, with Velcro closures that provide not only a secure
fit, but ease of use if dexterity is a problem.
And who would have known
that my father’s solution to my mother’s
cold-but-curled hands would inspire my latest venture. I’ve
taken the camouflage hand muff idea from my father (yes, he purchased
it in the hunting department) and am offering it in polar fleece
in classic colors. And there’s more. Instead of the shifting
blanket that many wheelchair users employ to keep warm, I’ve
modified the U-shaped shower lap-robe by giving it a flannel lined
belt (in the same polar fleece) that snaps around the users’ waist.
A matching poncho with extra long zipper completes the outfit. I’m
proud to design this line in conjunction with a professional, adaptive
custom clothing company, Specially For You. They’re experts
in taking the most difficult clothing need and finding creative,
affordable solutions for each individual.
On a larger scale, Silvert’s is the “Easy Wear, Easy
Care Clothing Company.” Their Web site is also “easy,” not
only categorizing their lines by men’s and women’s clothing,
but also by physical conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Arthritis
and Scoliosis. For clothing that needs to stand up to the industrial
washing machines at care facilities, Buck & Buck offers quality
clothing for home health care and nursing home residents.
As Breast Cancer Awareness month wraps up, adaptive undergarments
come to mind; I think of the many women struggling to maintain their
dignity after surgery. Underneath It All, located in Eden Prairie,
has created a line of breast forms, bras and swimsuits for mastectomy
patients and others with hard-to-fit body types.
It wasn’t long after I entered the assistive equipment business
that I realized why my #1, fastest-selling product is a sock aid.
My debilitating conditions affect circulation, which is most noticed
in the ankles and feet. Socks and shoes can be difficult to put on,
but are very important to protect delicate skin tissue that, as with
diabetics, cannot suffer scrapes and cuts. To ensure a proper fit,
Roger at Orthotics Geriatrics will come to your home and measure
your feet for diabetic shoes and inserts covered by Medicare. Bell-Horn
offers a wide range of compression hose, socks and stockings. Zappos
may be the Web’s most popular shoe store. Not only do they
offer free standard shipping on all orders, but they also have a
great selection of wide-width shoes.
From head to toe, there’s
no excuse for being dressed inappropriately no matter your situation.
Not with these companies that offer a such a large variety of price,
style and customization. ![]()
Resource Contact Information:
Bell
Horn: www.bell-horn.com
Buck & Buck: www.buckandbuck.com
Housecalls Network: www.housecalls-network.com
Orthotics Geriatrics: 952-893-9238
Silvert’s: www.silverts.com/index.cfm
Specially For You: www.speciallyforyou.net
Underneath It All: www.underneathitall.com
Wishing Wells: http://dawn-wells.com/Wishing_Wells/wishing_wells.html
Zappos.com: www.zappos.com
Lisa Schmidtke is the President
and Founder of House-calls Network. Their Web site, www.housecalls-network.com,
contains a directory of resources that can help the growing population
of seniors, people with disabilities and their caregivers live independently.
House-calls Network also sells aids for daily living and adaptive
clothing.
Lisa Schmidtke can be reached by e-mail at lisa@housecalls-network.com or by phone at 952-221-0722. Housecalls Network does not endorse
any particular provider. They assume no responsibility for transactions
between the readers of this article and listed organizations.
