My name is Heather Yannacos. A few years ago, a friend of mine told me of her frustration & unhappiness at the discomfort experienced by nursing home residents while they were being dressed. Their clothing was often restrictive & tight, causing them distress & slowing down the dressing process.

What was needed, she said, was a night garment, suitable for both men & women, simple in design & with an easy opening at the back.

After a few less than successful attempts, the idea became clearer – a number of requirements were important.

1) Soft fabric which allowed some stretch.

2) Fabric which would not be abrasive on skin.

3) Fabric which would be warm/cool enough to suit air conditioning levels.

4) A range of colours that would be pleasing to the eye.

5) No buttons to bruise or tear skin.

6) A length that was long enough to cover knees, but still short enough for the carer to remove easily.

7) The neckline needed to be high enough to keep out the chills.

8) The back overlap panel needed to be wide enough to stay closed.

9) Overall, a loose fitting garment of a “One Size Fits Most” pattern so as to be cost effective.

This idea has led to a range of UNISEX night wear suitable for high dependency nursing home residents & others who experience difficulties when dressing.

Feedback from nurses indicates that they appreciate the ease of dressing that these garments afford – “brilliant”,  “just what we need” & “ We give these garments eleven out of ten” are three direct quotes from nursing home staff in metropolitan Adelaide & country SA.

Bliss Wear SA aims to please. We welcome all feedback & are happy to discuss other needs or designs required.