Dressing Aids: Shoe Horns, Button Hooks and More

By Scott Smith. Last reviewed 22 October 2026.

Who Uses Dressing Aids?

They help people with arthritis, back or hip problems, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis, people who have had a stroke and anyone recovering from surgery such as a hip replacement. Dressing aids for elderly people are among the most common aids supplied after a hospital stay. Using them is not a sign of giving up; many people find they save energy for the rest of the day.

How Does a Long Handled Shoe Horn Help?

A long handled shoe horn lets you guide your heel into a shoe while sitting or standing upright. Most are between about 40 cm and 80 cm long, and telescopic versions adjust in length. Metal shoe horns are strong and slim, while plastic ones are lighter and cheaper. Some have a hook on the end for pulling shoes off. Choose a length that reaches the floor from your usual dressing chair without leaning forward.

What Is a Button Hook?

A button hook has a wire loop on a handle. You push the loop through the buttonhole, hook it round the button and pull it back through. Many have a zip pull on the other end. Thick, soft handles are easiest for people with arthritis. A button hook takes practice, so try it on a shirt laid flat on a table first.

When Is a Dressing Stick Useful?

A dressing stick is a long rod with a hook at one or both ends. It helps you pull trousers and pants up over your feet, push clothes off your shoulders, hook a coat off a peg and push socks down over your heel. It is often part of a hip kit, and some combine a shoe horn on the other end.

Do You Need a Separate Sock Aid?

A sock aid is a curved gutter or frame that holds a sock open, so you can slide your foot in and pull the sock up with cords. It is very helpful after hip surgery or for people who cannot reach their feet. For compression stockings, a firmer frame works better. A hooked stick can help take socks off again.

How Can Clothing Make Dressing Easier?

Choose clothes with wider necks, front openings and elastic waists. Magnetic or press stud fastenings replace fiddly buttons, and touch fastening straps on shoes save tying laces. Elastic laces turn lace up shoes into slip ons. Loose sleeves are easier over stiff shoulders, and stretchy fabrics need less pulling. Our guide to adaptive clothing for wheelchair users covers specialist clothing.

Dressing Tips for Stiff Joints or One Hand

1. Sit on a firm chair with arms, or the edge of the bed, while you dress.
2. Lay clothes out in order within easy reach before you start.
3. Dress the weaker or stiffer side first, and undress it last.
4. Put both legs into trousers before standing to pull them up.
5. Take your time, and rest between items if you get tired easily.

Putting on Shoes and Coats

Slip on shoes with a firm heel, touch fastening straps or elastic laces are the easiest to manage. Sit down to put shoes on, rest the shoe on the floor and slide the shoe horn down the back of the heel before pushing your foot in. A shoe horn with a hook on the end can also flip a shoe the right way round. For coats, put the weaker or stiffer arm in first, then swing the coat round your back and reach the other arm in. A hooked stick can help lift the coat over your shoulder. Hanging coats on a low hook saves reaching up, and a coat with a large zip pull or toggles is easier than small buttons.

Dressing After a Hip Replacement

After a hip replacement you may be asked to avoid bending deeply or crossing your legs for a while. A long handled shoe horn, sock aid, dressing stick and grabber let you dress within those limits. Practise before your operation if you can, and follow the advice from your hospital team.

Helping Someone Else Get Dressed

If you care for someone, encourage them to do as much as they can for themselves, even if it takes longer, as this keeps movement and confidence. Offer clothes one item at a time, and give simple prompts if memory is a problem. Make sure the room is warm and private. Dressing aids can let the person manage more on their own, with you helping only with the hardest parts.

Getting Advice and Equipment

An occupational therapist can suggest the right aids and ways of dressing, and often supplies them after an assessment. You can ask your GP or request a needs assessment from social services. Many dressing aids are VAT free for disabled people, and our guide to VAT relief on mobility aids explains how. The daily living aids page covers more small aids.

The aids below were in stock when we checked each listing. Choose the one that matches the part of dressing you find hardest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Dressing Aid Should I Buy First?

Start with the task you find hardest. For many people that is shoes and socks, so a long shoe horn and a sock aid are common first choices.

Can I Get Dressing Aids on the NHS?

Often, yes, after an occupational therapist assessment or before discharge from hospital.

Are Telescopic Shoe Horns Strong Enough?

Most are fine for everyday use. Check the locking joint holds firmly when extended.

What Is in a Hip Kit?

A hip kit usually includes a sock aid, a long shoe horn, a hooked stick and a grabber, often with a long handled sponge. They are useful after hip surgery and for anyone who cannot bend easily.

How Do I Do Up Buttons with One Hand?

A button hook lets you do up buttons with one hand. Do up the top buttons before putting the shirt on over your head if that is easier.