How To Make A Dressing Stick In 4 Quick Steps- The DIY Therapist

A dressing stick is an assistive device used to help make putting on and taking off clothing easier for people who have limited upper body range of motion (reach) and decreased hip flexion (bending). This type of adaptive equipment aims to reduce bending and reaching while putting on and taking off various types of clothing. Additionally, a screw hook can be added for the purpose of creating a shoe aid and zipper pull. This is a quick and easy project so let’s get started.

This content is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, therapist, or other medical professional regarding a medical condition, treatment. This content is for informational purposes only.

All links in this post are non-affiliate links, and are provided for your convenience. See full disclosure here.

What Is A Dressing Stick?

A dressing stick is a type of dressing aid that is designed to help make putting on and taking off clothing easier. This type of long-handled adaptive device is often recommended by occupational therapists to help reduce the need for bending, reaching or twisting while getting dressed. Furthermore, the great thing about a dressing stick is that it can help people gain or maintain independence in dressing. Plus, it’s a pretty simple device to create too.

Dressing sticks can be used to don and doff pants, shirts, jackets, undergarments, pull zippers up and down, remove socks, and even help pull on shoes. The large hook is used to lift clothing or straps up over the shoulder when reach is limited. It can also be used to pull pant legs up to the ankles, and lift garments off the shoulder and down the arm to remove. This device can assist with moving zippers up and down; however, it does not help align zippers.

Dressing aids are typically made from a 27-28” dowel rod with ⅝” thickness with a special hook at each end. The specially designed hooks assist to grab hold of garments, pull on shoes, and zip up zippers.

If you are in need of clothing that automatically aligns zippers, check out the technology, Magzip, which is designed for one hand use which aligns zippers automatically. JCPenney, Tommy Hilfiger, Ankhgear, Lands’ End, and MagnaReady, all carry Magzip technology zippers. Also, check out my post on DIY adaptive clothing using Velcro closures as well as a do-it-yourself button hook and zipper pull adaptive aid.

If you would like to purchase a dressing stick, you can do so here.

What Is The Purpose Of A Shoe Aid And Zipper Pull?

In addition to the large hook portion of the dressing stick used to don and doff clothing, this project also includes instructions for how to add a shoe aid and zipper pull. The type of shoe aid we are making is a type of adaptive equipment used to assist individuals with pulling on their shoes. On the other hand, the screw hook can also be used as a zipper pull, and assists individuals in zipping up or down a zipper. However, the zipper pull does not align the zippers. See the above section for information about Magzip technology which aligns zippers automatically.

For the project, a screw hook is placed at one end of the dowel rod. This, of course, can be used as both a shoe aid and a zipper pull. But this portion of the project is optional.

If you are looking for a button hook and zipper pull all-in-one DIY device, check out this post.

When Is A Dressing Stick Helpful?

Dressing sticks can assist people who have limited upper body range of motion (reach) and decreased hip flexion (bending at the hips). Furthermore, this type of dressing aid can improve or gain independence in getting dressed and undressed for those who have bending and reaching limitations. Whether someone is recovering from hip surgery or an injury, has arthritis, is a senior, or has a disability, a dressing stick can help regain, improve, or maintain independence in dressing skills.

How Is The DIY Dressing Stick Version Different From The Original?

The do-it-yourself dressing stick is different from the original because it is made using the hook portion of a clothing hanger to create the specialized hook as seen in dressing sticks sold online. The hanger portion of the dressing stick is used to grab clothing either by removing or putting on the garment such as over the shoulder. Additionally, the screw hook on the opposite end of the dowel rod can be used as both a long-handled shoe aid and a zipper pull.

How Do I Make A Pediatric Dressing Stick?

To make a pediatric dressing stick for a child, adjust the length of the dowel rod based on their height and reach needs.

What Other Types Of Dressing Aids Are Available?

Here is a list of other types of dressing aids available:

DIY button hook and zipper pull (The DIY Therapist)
Long handled shoe horn (Amazon link)
Elastic no-tie shoelaces (Amazon link)
Sock aid (amazon link)
DIY adaptive clothing using Velcro (The DIY Therapist)
Stocking donner for putting on compression socks (Amazon link)

Projects With A Purpose

Projects With A Purpose is a section of my posts where I lay out ideas for sharing some of The DIY Therapist projects with others. These long-handled dressing sticks can be given to senior care centers and rehab facilities for people who may otherwise not have one. Here are a few things to keep in mind before making and donating dressing sticks:

Decide where you would like to donate DIY dressing sticks. Consider places such as local assisted living homes, nursing homes, rehab facilities, home health agencies, and rehab facilities.
Contact the director, occupational therapist, or physical therapist and find out their needs for dressing sticks.
If there is a need, find out how many dressing sticks may be needed. Let them know how many you would be willing to make, and get creating.
Lastly, schedule a drop off time and date.

Special Considerations

This project is not intended to be made by children.
Use caution when using a wire cutters being careful not to pinch or cut your fingers.
Lastly, make sure to wrap all sharp ends of the hanger to avoid cuts and scrapes. See pictures for reference. Replace duct tape as needed.

How To Make A Dressing Stick

Materials

27-28” dowel rod with 5/8″ thickness
Metal clothes hanger
Wire cutters
Duct tape
1- Screw hook screw

Instructions

First, screw the screw hook into one end of the dowel rod until secure. See picture 1 above.
Using the wire cutters, cut the hook portion off the main hanger as seen in the picture 2 above.
Bend the legs of the hanger down (picture 3), and then secure the hanger with duct tape (opposite the screw hook) as seen in picture 4 above.
Lastly, wrap any sharp ends of the hanger with duct tape to avoid scratches as seen in picture 4 above.