Understanding and picking the right sock aid

Most of us do not even give a second thought about wearing socks because it is just a part of the daily routine. But for most elderly, especially those with little or limited range of motion and sore joint pains, have difficulty in bending down and wearing their own socks. To those who face this daunting task, there are simple devices know as – Sock aids – which help with this routine at ease. The most important aspect for an elderly person to be wearing their own socks without the help of a third person or without being put into strain denotes a great sense of independence.

The mechanism of using a sock aid is very simple; they are essentially equipped with foot chutes over which the sock is drawn on, and then pull up your socks by simply pulling at the handles with your foot placed into the chute. The effort is simple and the foot chute also has easy techniques through which the sock can easily be pulled over the ankle and worn without any creases.

Given that there a variety of sock aid devices available in the market, the real question that an elderly individual should ask themselves is what type of sock aid suits them best? A flexible or rigid sock aid, a sock aid with one, two, or no handles, etc.

The primary decision is to choose what kind of material to pick out. A rigid sock aid has a larger chute which requires the sock to be stretched over the sides but holds a wider opening for entering the foot. The flexible sock aid is easier to mount the sock without effort but may require a user who has better control of their hands. For the those who have swollen foot or need to wear compression socks, then choosing the rigid one is better choice, whereas the flexible sock aids are user-friendly and are smooth when transitioning around the heel. Choosing the type of handle to pick varies based on the comfort of the individual and their level of comfort in using them.

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Before You Go

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