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Activities of Daily Living

Dresses Client with Affected Arm

When dressing a resident with one weak arm: put the sleeve on the WEAK arm first (POW — Put On Weak). When undressing: take the sleeve off the STRONG arm first (TOS — Take Off Strong). Support the affected arm at the joints.

5-10 minutes•12 steps•1 critical
Dress the weak side FIRST. Undress the strong side FIRST.

Why this matters

Dress the weak side FIRST. Undress the strong side FIRST.

Quick tips

  • Weak arm goes in first, strong arm comes out first.
  • Bring the sleeve to the arm. Do not pull the arm to the sleeve.
  • The exam names the weak side as the right arm. Check which side is weak before you start, then follow that side.

Common mistakes

  • Dressing the strong arm first, which fails the critical step.
  • Mixing up which side is weak, so the wrong arm goes in first.
  • Pulling the arm into the sleeve, which can hurt a stiff or painful joint.
  • Leaving the chest uncovered between gown and shirt, which skips a checklist step about avoiding overexposure.