M6 · Needs help to dress
Actual Movement and self-care
Definition
The person cannot choose, put on, or remove clothing alone.- Arm weakness
- arthritis
- pain
- confusion
- Struggles with buttons
- cannot lift arms
- needs help
📋 Scenario
A woman with a shoulder injury cannot put on a shirt.
Subjective (S): "I can't lift my arm to get my shirt on."
Objective (O): Shoulder injury; cannot raise the right arm; fastens buttons slowly.
Assessment tools for this scenario: CP-MOVE Movement & Self-Care Score
Validated scales to consider: Barthel Index, Katz ADL
**CarePath diagnosis:** Needs help to dress related to arm weakness, as evidenced by struggles with buttons and cannot lift arms.
**Interventions and rationale**
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Offer easy-fit clothing. | Loose, stretchy or front-opening clothes need less arm movement, so dressing is easier and less painful. |
| Dress the affected side first. | Dressing the injured arm first means it goes through the sleeve while it has the most room, which avoids pulling it. |
| Allow time. | Rushing causes pain and frustration, whereas extra time lets her work at her own pace and succeed. |
| Encourage independence. | Doing tasks herself builds confidence and keeps her skills, which supports recovery and a sense of control. |
**Expected outcomes**
- Within 1 week: dresses upper body with adaptive clothing in about 10 minutes.
- Patient states the technique.
**Linking the data to the diagnosis**
A woman with a shoulder injury says, "I can't lift my arm to get my shirt on." She cannot raise her right arm and fastens buttons slowly, so she already struggles to dress. This is an actual problem, not a risk. The plan aims to make dressing possible and safe using easy-fit clothing and a good technique, giving her time and encouraging independence. Within 1 week the expected outcomes are dressing the upper body with adaptive clothing in about 10 minutes and the patient stating the technique herself.
CarePath diagnosis
Needs help to dress related to arm weakness, as evidenced by struggles with buttons and cannot lift arms.
Interventions and rationale
Listed in priority order.
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| 1. Offer easy-fit clothing. | Loose, stretchy or front-opening clothes need less arm movement, so dressing is easier and less painful. |
| 2. Dress the affected side first. | Dressing the injured arm first means it goes through the sleeve while it has the most room, which avoids pulling it. |
| 3. Allow time. | Rushing causes pain and frustration, whereas extra time lets her work at her own pace and succeed. |
| 4. Encourage independence. | Doing tasks herself builds confidence and keeps her skills, which supports recovery and a sense of control. |
Expected outcomes
- Within 1 week: dresses upper body with adaptive clothing in about 10 minutes.
- Patient states the technique.
Linking the data to the diagnosis
A woman with a shoulder injury says, "I can't lift my arm to get my shirt on." She cannot raise her right arm and fastens buttons slowly, so she already struggles to dress. This is an actual problem, not a risk. The plan aims to make dressing possible and safe using easy-fit clothing and a good technique, giving her time and encouraging independence. Within 1 week the expected outcomes are dressing the upper body with adaptive clothing in about 10 minutes and the patient stating the technique herself.