Assisting a resident who has a weak or impaired arm requires both clinical skill and compassionate care. The video you shared emphasizes two fundamental principles: minimizing discomfort and promoting dignity and independence. Here’s why correctly following the procedure matters so much in healthcare:

• Reduces Pain and Prevents Further Injury
  Moving a weak arm incorrectly can exacerbate pain, cause joint strain, or even provoke injury. By always undressing the strong arm first and dressing the weak arm first, caregivers ensure limited movement of the affected side—making the process much gentler

• Enhances Patient Comfort and Promotes Trust
  Respectful and sensitive handling builds a sense of safety. Asking permission before removing each garment, explaining each step, and maintaining modesty through draping fosters patient comfort and trust .

• Encourages Independence and Self-Esteem
  Offering choices—like letting the resident pick their outfit—and encouraging them to assist as much as possible empowers the resident. This strengthens their sense of control and boosts self-worth, essential elements of person‑centered care 

• Supports Mobility and Functional Maintenance
  Gentle, guided movements help maintain joint flexibility in weakened limbs. This prevents stiffness and supports residual function—important for long-term care or rehabilitation.

You will need the following to Dress a Resident with a Weak Arm:

• Barrier 
• Clean Clothing
• Privacy Blanket

1. Preparation & Hand Hygiene

• Read and follow the Care Plan, the whole Care Plan, and nothing but the Care Plan.
• Knock and announce yourself before entering.
• Greet the Resident by name and introduce yourself.
• Explain the task to the Resident and ensure their comfort and consent.
• Close the Privacy Curtain
• Wash your hands thoroughly before beginning.
• Assess Glove Rules (Are Gloves required for this Resident?)
• Ask Resident about Clothing preferences.
• Gather your supplies 
• Gather Resident’s Clothing items, verify clothing items with Resident
• Do Not allow Resident’s clothing items to touch your Uniform.
• Clean or dirty – your uniform is not considered clean
• Make recommendations when necessary for appearance. (Matching recommendations)
• Remember: clothing choices are ultimately the Resident’s decision.
• Cover Resident with Privacy Blanket for modesty and warmth.
• Once supplies are gathered, and Resident is covered with a Privacy Blanket, pull the sheet to the bottom of the bed, leaving it underneath the Privacy Blanket.
• When lifting Resident Extremities, lift from below, supporting at the joints

2.  Dressing the Resident – Socks

• Retrieve Resident’s Socks
• Roll socks all the way to the toe seam
• Lifting Resident’s Foot from below while supporting it at the ankle from below, carefully place it over the Resident’s Toes, and securing it around their ankle.
• Verify Toes and Toe seam are lined up.
• Repeat with Resident’s other Foot.
• Adjust clothing for wrinkles, tidiness, comfort and alignment.

3. Dressing the Resident – Pants

• Retrieve Resident’s Pants. 
• Verify Tag is in the back, extend one arm through one leg of the pants and “scrunch” it together. 
• Holding the Pant leg together, carefully place it over Resident’s foot.
• Lifting from below, supporting at the ankle, ensure Resident’s Foot is not caught in pant leg.
• Repeat on Resident’s other Foot.
• Adjust Resident’s Pants waistband, asking resident to lift their hips to get Waistband into position. 
• Ensure Pants are over Resident’s Hips.
• Adjust clothing for wrinkles, tidiness, comfort and alignment.
• Cover Resident back up with Privacy Blanket.

4. Dressing the Resident – Top

• Elevate the head of the bed, asking Resident to notify you once they have reached a comfortable position. 
• One arm behind Resident’s back, gently lean them forward and untie the Resident’s Gown. 
• Tuck a Corner of the Privacy Blanket behind the Resident’s back for modesty.
  • Ask Resident to lean back onto the Privacy Blanket corner to hold it into position. 
  • Starting on Resident’s STRONG ARM SIDE FIRST, carefully pull the gown off of the Arm. 
• Gather removed portions of gown underneath Privacy blanket. 
• Move to Resident’s WEAKER SIDE, and tuck the corner of the Privacy Blanket behind their shoulder.
• Carefully remove Gown from Resident’s Arm, supporting the Arm at the Elbow as you Lift the Arm from below.
• Be careful as you remove Resident Gown to minimize Resident Exposure. 
• Remove Resident Gown and place on Barrier or in the Dirty Linens Bin.
  • DO NOT place Linens on the Floor.
• Retrieve Resident’s Shirt. 
• DRESS RESIDENT FROM WEAK ARM FIRST.
• Placing your Arm through the Sleeve, gather the Sleeve together. 
• Grasping Resident’s hand with your hand, securing the Resident’s fingers like you’re shaking hands, carefully pull sleeve over Resident’s Arm.
  • Prevents Resident from hand or finger injury
• Extend Resident’s Arm up, while supporting at the Elbow, and pull the Sleeve up to the Resident’s Shoulder.
• Ask Resident to Lean forward, while supporting them, pull shirt behind Resident’s Back, adjusting for cleanliness. 
• Move to Resident’s STRONG ARM side
• Gather sleeve, placing your hand through sleeve. 
• Ask Resident to Extend their Arm and slightly backward, while you support it at the elbow. 
• Carefully, with your hand through the Sleeve, grasping their hand in a hand shake, pull sleeve over Residents’ Arm. 
• Gently return Resident’s Arm to the bed. 
• Adjust clothing for wrinkles, tidiness, comfort and alignment.
• If Shirt has buttons/snaps ensure all are correctly buttoned/snapped and aligned.
• Remove Resident’s Privacy Blanket and Dirty gown and place in Dirty Linens bin.
  • Careful not to allow dirty linens to touch your Uniform or the Floor.

5. Addressing Resident Comfort & Closing

• Ensure Resident is comfortable.
• Adjust Resident Clothing for Comfort, Neatness, Alignment and verify all fasteners are closed. 
• Ensure Resident is sitting properly in bed.
• Ask about Resident needs and preferences.
• Provide Resident with Call light.
  • Ensure Call Light is on Resident’s “STRONG SIDE”
• Close curtain and ensure bed is in lowest position.
• Thoroughly wash your hands.
• Think about the Steps of your Skill. Make any corrections. Tell the evaluator your Skills is complete.

• Not reading and following the Care Plan, the whole Care Plan, and nothing but the Care Plan.
• Not notifying Resident of task or instruction throughout.
• Not taking Resident clothing choices into account/ignoring Resident decisions. 
• Touching Linens to Nurses’ Uniform
• Allowing Linens to touch the floor.
• Touching Resident before washing hands. 
• Not supporting Extremities at the joints when ambulating Resident. 
• Not properly gathering Sleeves/legs when dressing resident.
• Forcing unnatural movement/forcing uncomfortable movement for Resident.
• Beginning on WEAK ARM side first
• Not securing Fingers or Toes when dressing Resident
• Not checking Resident Clothing for Cleanliness, Alignment, Comfort or Wrinkles.
• Leaving Call light in Resident’s WEAK ARM