A struggle to find smart comfortable clothes for an elderly relative with mobility problems has inspired a former care home manager to launch a Europe-wide business aimed at helping people with mobility problems.

Ann Lomas, who has worked in the care industry for 25 years, launched Assisted Living Clothing this autumn after conducting research into the needs of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s sufferers and others with mobility problems and gleaning detailed feedback from care workers and family members.

Ann’s partner’s 89-year–old mother Betty Hunt, who suffers from Alzheimer’s and has had a series of mini strokes, is the inspiration for the business – and the problems Ann and her sister in law Jackie experienced trying to find clothes for her are the seed which spawned what is set to become a successful enterprise.

Ann, who lives in the West Country where all the clothes are made, runs the business with her two daughters Ruth and Anita and has already seen orders from local nursing homes whose staff say the clothes not only look fantastic but also are easy for their residents to wear.

Ann’s sister in law Jackie Pendergast explained how the frustrations and upset the pair experienced trying to find suitable clothes for Betty evolved into a company which should save other people from suffering similar problems with their elderly relatives.

“My mum has always loved wearing beautiful clothes and was always very
smartly dressed. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s when she was 70 – although she was just very forgetful at that stage - and moved into a home at 79 after a stroke,” said Jackie.

“In 2007 she had a series of mini strokes and went from being able to walk with two carers to not being able to move. She lost her ability to speak and to eat properly. Because she can’t move she’s very rigid in the arms so it was very difficult to dress her. At first I bought her clothes which were a couple of sizes too big. They had to open all the way from top to bottom but the continual tugging to get them on 
made the button holes too large. I then asked a dressmaker to design some clothes with more access around the armholes. The dresses were beautiful but didn’t work.

“At this point Ann came to visit and I explained the problems. She took the dresses away with her, adapted them by making the armholes bigger and creating a sleeve which flapped over the arm. Ann also designed a dress pattern which incorporated sleeves without armhole seams.

“She sent them to me along with a questionnaire for me to give to the carers so they could give their feedback and Ann could make any necessary adjustments.

“The staff at my mum’s home say the dresses are excellent and easy to manoeuvre. They are also made from fabric which is easy to wash and doesn’t need ironing and which is
comfortable to wear. They need to be stretchy enough that the carer can help the wearer dress while still being stylish. Often with a condition like Alzheimer’s dignity is the last thing we can hang onto.

“We had a similar problem with nightdresses. Some of the ladies in my mum’s care home had nightdresses which opened at the back which is not very dignified. Again, Ann set to work and came up with a crossover and tie nightdress which is easy for the carers to use, 
comfortable for my mum and looks lovely.

“Ann needed to take into account too things like the fact that if people have had a stroke or have Alzheimer’s or mobility problems there can’t be any fastenings which the wearer will sit on or lean against as they could cause bed sores or friction burns.”

The staff’s enthusiasm for the dresses, nightdresses and bed jackets Ann made for Betty inspired her to create Assisted Living Clothing so she could help thousands of people in
similar circumstances.

Ann explained: “Betty’s problems are echoed across the country and the world. There must be other people out there despairing of finding anything suitable.”

Ann is looking into setting up focus groups with local organisations which provide services to older people and will be asking members to trial new designs and provide her with feedback so the clothes can be adapted if necessary before they go on the market. The sessions will double up as social occasions for retired people so provide an additional service too.

“We’re passionate about helping enhance the lives of our customers and their care givers so they don’t have to go through the hoops we did,” she added.

Click here to go to the Assisted Living Clothing website