A patient’s guide for completing activities of daily living with one hand

Tips:

• To wash with a soap flannel/sponge: Place it across the knee and rub soap on it
• Most areas of the body can be reached by one hand. To wash your functional arm fully, place a flannel over the side of the bath or across your knee and rub your arm on it.
• Use a long handled back brush/sponge or loofah for your back, underarm and opposite side. Wrap the sponge head with a towel after bathing to help you reach the same areas to dry
• Sit and place a towel over your knee and rub your arm over it to dry
• Wear a towelling bath robe
• Put a loop on the end of a towel or use a back towel which has loops at either end. Attach the loop to a hook on the wall hold the other loop in your functional hand and rub your back against it.

Tips:

• Use a lightweight hair brush
• Have hair cut regularly and choose an easy care style

One handed hair tying techniques: HOW I PUT MY HAIR UP WITH ONE ARM - YouTube

Tips

• Use an electric razor for your face
• Use a hair removal cream for underneath your arms
• Consider getting waxed by a professional
• There are various permanent or semi-permanent hair reductions available from professional beauty therapists

Tips

• Put a piece of non-slip material on a surface or on your knee, place a nail file on top of it and then push your nails backwards and forwards
• Another way is to hold the nail file by sitting on it (i.e. between your thigh and the edge of a firm seat)

• Have your nails manicured at a local nail salon

Tips:

• Rest the toothbrush on the sink or side, or hold between your lips whilst applying toothpaste.
• Squeeze toothpaste directly in your mouth and then begin to brush your teeth.
• Floss your teeth with a disposable flossing tool which has a handle

To clean false teeth

1. Sit down with a flannel on your lap, place teeth in towel and grip between knees
2. Brush using a tooth brush.
3. Rotate the teeth till done all over.

Tips:

• To use a standard toilet holder: Pull the desired amount, put forefinger and thumb on either side of the paper by the perforation, use your thumb to pierce the perforation line and tear off paper
• Use moist toilet tissue that dispense single sheets
• Position toilet roll holder on the side of the functional arm, if because of the design of the bathroom this is not possible you could use a floor standing toilet roll holder, but make sure it is heavy enough to stand up whilst you are pulling off the paper

Feminine Hygiene

• It may be easier to use sanitary pads rather than tampons. Take the tape off using your teeth, put the pad onto a hard surface and press your pants onto it. Moist toilet wipes in the flat packets are easy to use to freshen up with.

General Tips

• When putting an item of clothing on, always start by dressing the affected arm first
• Clothes with some elasticity may make things easier e.g. Lycra, elastic, knitwear
• Garments with deep roomy armholes, or elastic waist lines, large neck or front/side openings are easier

Putting on a tie

1. Tuck the narrow end of the tie in the top of your trousers or between your knees. This secures the tie at that end.
2. Wrap the tie round in the normal manner to make the knot and pull down into position.
3. When undressing, leave the tie knot made up, loosen slightly and slip over your head. Sewing a material elastic band that is measured to the base of your neck can help keep this in position.
4. If all else fails, ties can be bought with ‘ready-made’ knots or as clip-on ties.

One handed tie technique: How to tie a tie with one hand - Half Windsor - YouTube

• Do hooks up in front, swivel bra round waist and then pull straps up (elastic straps are easier)
• A sports bra which has no fastenings can be pulled over your head
• Adapt bra by having D-ring fastenings with a Velcro loop

How to Button a shirt with one hand video: Easy Hack: Buttoning a Shirt Single-Handedly - YouTube

Tips:

• Sew the cuff button on with elastic thread so that it is possible to push hand  through the fastened cuff
• Use expanding cuff links
• Fasten the button first and put hand through the cuff
• Use Velcro with button sewn back over the button hole
• Use a loop of elastic instead of the buttonhole or put a piece of elastic between two buttonholes

• Wear trainers/shoes with Velcro fastenings
• Slip on shoes are easier
• To tie up a shoe lace the one- handed methods require you to use ring, index, and middle finger and thumb to tighten the bow. If you look on the website ‘YouTube’ and search for ‘Tying up a shoe lace with one hand’ there are videos which demonstrate the technique successfully.   

One Handed shoelace tying videos:

Shoe Tying - One Handed Technique - YouTube

Hannah's One-Handed Shoe Tying - YouTube

Dressing after Stroke | Tying Shoelaces with One Hand - YouTube

Accessible clothing lines:

The Able Label: The Able Label | Adaptive Clothing For Women & Men UK

Hilfiger Adaptive Line: Tommy Adaptive Clothing Collection | Tommy Hilfiger®