Fastening aids - Button, hook and zip pullers

As people get older or have an illness, they may start to loose the dexterity in their fingers, their near vision, or the manipulative control of their fingers. The result can be that a once simple task can become more of a challenge and, in some cases, a frustrating obstacle to getting dressed or undressed.

Holding small and fiddly objects like buttons or zip pulls can become very trying and may even present a problem that cannot be overcome. The solution to this is a number of variations on devices that combine a large (thick) and easy to hold handle with a hook or threading hook.

These aids are easy to hold and the large diameter handle and slender wire arm terminated with the hook make them easy to grip, control and coordinate. This makes them ideal for those with grasp, strength or dexterity problems in their hands.

The fact that the "doing end" of the aid is separated from the gripping handle by several inches makes it easy to see where the hook is positioned and this makes it less likely that the target (e.g. a zipper) will be missed. The larger "easy hold" handle increases the control and removes strain from the fingers. Combing all of these features results in a device that makes zipping up a fleece or buttoning up a shirt a much easier task.

Zip tabs or pulls

In addition to portable "hook and handle" versions of zip pullers (see right), it is also possible to get a more permanent zipper pull attachment.

A variation on the zip puller is to have a permanent "easy hold" tab attached to the zip. These tabs are normally leather or fabric and they look like an accessory whilst making the use of a zip much easier.

These kinds of aids will suit the elderly or anyone who finds buttoning or zipping problematic.

At the moment zipper tabs are also a fashion accessory, so they do not look out of place or imply that the wearer has a gripping or dexterity problem.