If you’re caring for an elderly loved one who needs help with meals, often there is an issue of food being spilled. It’s distressing for an older person who is eating to know that he or she can’t keep food from falling on their their chest or lap. And, of course, it’s more work for the caregiver because that means another change of clothes.

Most people resolve this issue by using a “bib,” but honestly, how must that make someone feel. We do it in the hospital all the time and we even call it a bib. When I’m working as a nurse, there are a couple of terms I don’t use. I don’t tell a senior I’m “changing the diaper,” I tell them I’m “changing the brief,” and I don’t tell a senior that I need to “put on his bib first.” I usually say something like I’m going to protect your clothes first.

If you’re at home and you do need to help someone cover up at meal time, here’s a suggestion that may be more dignified than a bib: an apron.

For women, you can get all sorts of pretty prints or if you’re handy you can sew a few up. You could even add a bit of protective fabric above the bib part of the apron for a bit more coverage. For men, you could find some cool chef or barbecue aprons, or again, maybe you could sew some if you know how. For either, you could personalize them or if you have children, they could help design them. With all the new crafts available, you can iron photos on, kids can use permanent marker or crayons, all sorts of things.

It may seem like a small thing, but there’s a huge difference between having your adult daughter tie a bib around your neck and help you put on an apron.

Just a thought.

If you’d like to see some easy-to-make patterns and instructions, here’s a site I found:

54 Free Apron Patterns - this site has apron styles from a full coverage apron to a simple dishtowel apron.

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