This Policy defines the procedures and philosophies to be observed for assisting a service user to dress or undress, maximising the dignity and privacy of the service user which is respected and preserved as far as possible:
1. Before assisting the service user to dress, the Care Worker should ask the service user regarding his / her choice of clothes. The Care Worker should then help the service user to select these clothes and have them ready to hand.
2.The Care Worker should discuss with the service user his / her preferred routine for dressing, and possibly to suggest an easier way. It must be borne in mind that weak or infirm limbs must be put into clothing first. The Care Worker must be mindful of the need to respect privacy and / or modesty, and to encourage the service user to do as much as possible for himself / herself.
3. After dressing is complete, the Care Worker should check that the clothing is comfortable and that garments are not twisted or rucked that could lead to pressure sores.
4. For undressing, this procedure should ideally be reversed, ensuring that weak or infirm limbs are taken out of clothing first.