Looking Well to Feel Well

The Met Gala is a fantasy come to life where celebrities walk down the red carpet dressed to the nines. Their lavish costumes add to the glamorous, almost febrile nature of a dream. A few nights ago, I went to a gala for my company where everyone was dressed to impress. As I am always thinking of how to improve the residents’ wellbeing, I thought of the two MDS questions F0400.A) How important is it to you to choose what clothes to wear? and F0800. A) Choosing clothes to wear.

Unlike the Met Gala, this one was a lot more than just a moment of whimsy. There, among many conversations, we discussed how important it is that the residents feel put together in their everyday lives.

Physical appearance is extremely important for one’s wellbeing. If you are well dressed, you show that you not only care about how you present yourself, but how you present the people around you. This pertains to the residents as well. If they look put together, it can provide them with a sense of security and normalcy, while also making them feel proud to be part of the community at your facility.

My facility has historically been mainly comprised of religious women (nuns). They used to wear habits, and when they started to wear every-day clothing, they looked like they came right out of a magazine. Some still do! However, with the recent influx of laypeople, I have noticed more residents wearing casual, loose clothes. In addition, when residents have a change in mobility, their outfits often change to dresses or dresses with open backs. Do they have a t-shirt underneath these dresses so their dignity is still preserved? Are they choosing what to wear every day, or is it more of a matter of convenience?

Also, think about yourselves: How you may dress differently according to the activity – maybe casual clothes for staying around the house, business-casual for work, formal for parties, etc. Why would this be any different for the residents? Personally, I almost never wear dresses. How will I feel when someone puts me in a dress every day?

Even though getting residents dressed for the day is considered an ADL and thus under nursing’s purview, how can we, as Activity Professionals, advocate for their appearance? Can we request that they wear something specific for an activity? A hat for the Kentucky Derby, perhaps? What about their best outfit for a fashion show? How about when we take them out of their rooms for a normal activity: are they presentable?

I encourage you all to educate your staff on the importance of physical appearance. This is just another aspect of caring for your residents’ wellbeing, and having a meaningful moment. In the end, we are all working as their advocates.

Written by: Arielle Grosser, Engagement Manager of the Special Care Unit

Submitted by: Catherine Sabatini, Activities Director