When dressing a resident who has a weak arm, which guideline is emphasized?

• A. Undress gown, the strong side first
• B. Ask what they would prefer to wear
• C. Dress the weak side first
• D. Put socks on while supporting legs

Answer: (C)

When dressing a resident with a weak arm, the important idea is to protect and facilitate the movement of the weaker limb by starting with it. Dressing the weak side first allows you to guide that arm into the sleeve while the garment is still open, so you don’t have to pull clothing over the shoulder or elbow. This reduces strain, pain, or injury to the weak arm and lets the resident participate with support from you as needed. Once the weak side is in, the rest of the garment can be completed more smoothly on the strong side. Dressing the strong side first would tend to pull on the weak arm and make the process harder. Simply asking what they would prefer is good for autonomy, but it doesn’t address the technique. Putting socks on while supporting the legs is a different step related to lower-extremity care, not dressing the arm.