Frequently asked questions

With care clothing, height and weight alone are often not enough to decide the size. Even for the same build, the right size changes with things like these:

• Whether the person uses diapers or pull-up pants
• Whether they spend more time sitting or lying down
• Whether they dress themselves or are helped to dress
• Whether the garment itself is cut generously

For example, for someone who spends much of the day lying down, pants that are too large tend to slip down, so a size that fits the body can be the safer choice. On the other hand, for someone who is helped to dress, a top with a little room can make it easier to get the arms through the sleeves.

If you are unsure, tell us the person's height, weight and usual size, along with the points above. If you already have a garment in mind, we will advise based on how that garment fits.

Because of the thickness of diapers or pull-up pants, a size with room around the seat and tummy is often more comfortable. The usual size, or one size up, is a good starting point.

However, pants that are too large can slip down, and can be harder for a helper to pull up. With pants that are already cut generously, the usual size is sometimes enough.

If you tell us the size of the pants worn now and how they feel (just right, a little tight, or loose), we can suggest a closer size.

Many families are unsure after facility staff say that larger clothing is easier to put on.

Going up a size makes not only the body wider but also the sleeves and length longer. So rather than sizing up first, we suggest choosing clothing like this:

• Front-opening clothing that opens wide
• Clothing in fabric that stretches well
• Clothing with room around the arms and at the cuffs

That said, for someone whose joints have stiffened and whose arms are hard to move, one size up can make dressing easier. If you are unsure, we suggest trying one garment without name marking first, and deciding after seeing how dressing actually goes.

People who sit for long periods feel tightness around the tummy more than when standing. For pants, choosing by the waist measurement rather than the hip often makes sitting more comfortable.

With a fully elastic waist, a slightly roomier size will still follow the body to a degree. Aim for "a little loose".

For tops, the same size label can feel different depending on how the fabric stretches. Clothing described as very stretchy is a good guide when you want more ease.

When hand strength has weakened, or when one hand has to hold a handrail, even loose elastic-waist pants can catch on the seat or on a diaper and become hard to pull up.

For this we often suggest "Oshiri Surutto Pants". They are designed to make pulling up and down in the toilet easier, with features such as:

• A smooth lining that does not catch on the seat or a diaper
• A relaxed waist elastic that is easy to pull up even with weak hands
• A non-slip strip inside the waist, so the pants do not drop to the floor when lowered

For someone who still goes to the toilet on their own, these may help them keep doing what they can do now. Whether they suit depends on the person's condition, so please ask us about anything that concerns you.

When seated in a wheelchair, hems ride up more than when standing, so the ankles tend to show. But hems that are too long can touch the footrests and get in the way during transfers.

In our consultations so far, we most often suggest a 55 cm inseam for smaller people up to about 150 cm tall, and a 60 cm inseam for those in the mid-150 cm range. If you know the inseam of the pants worn now, we can suggest a closer length.

If cold ankles are a concern, besides longer pants you can also add longer socks, ankle warmers or a lap blanket.

There are also pants made with a tuck at the knee so that the hems do not ride up when seated. The shape also keeps the hems from dragging when standing up.

As the back and hips bend forward, the back rise of the pants becomes too short and the lower back tends to show. The same can happen for people who layer pull-up pants and pads.

In that case, choose high-rise pants with a deep back rise. They wrap the hips fully, so they stay in place when leaning forward or sitting, and are easier to pull up.

If you can tell us roughly how many more centimetres are needed at the back, we will check the actual measurements of the garment for you.

For people who have difficulty raising their arms, or who change clothes with assistance, we recommend front-opening styles. For those who can change by themselves, staying with a familiar style, while keeping the strain on the body in mind, is also an option.

When the arms stay bent in front of the body and are hard to move, even front-opening clothing can strain the body when the sleeves go on, if the fabric does not stretch enough or the cuffs are not wide enough.

So beyond whether it opens at the front, we suggest looking for these two things:

• Fabric that stretches well both lengthwise and crosswise
• Cuffs that open wide, so the sleeve can go on from around the elbow

The "High-stretch T-shirt" has cuffs that open to about 50 cm, so the sleeve can be put on over a bent elbow. It is a pullover, but some people put it on by pulling it up from the feet.

When a front opening is needed, we sometimes suggest "Stretch Pajamas", which stretch well in both directions, as daytime wear. Tell us about the person's condition and how dressing is usually done, and we will think it through with you.

We suggest front-opening tops that can be put on without raising the arms high. Compared with pullovers, they can be changed without moving the body much, which is often easier for both the wearer and the helper.

Choosing fabric that stretches well also makes it easier to get the arms through. Rather than sizing up because the arms are hard to raise, putting "front-opening" and "stretchy fabric" first makes it easier to wear clothing that fits.

Many people choose front-opening underwear. With hooks or touch-fastening tape at the front, it can be changed without raising the arms.

For someone whose arms stay bent, we sometimes suggest the very stretchy "Nobinobi Easy Short-sleeve Innerwear". It also works when the sleeve is put on from the elbow. It is not dryer-safe, so please take care if the facility uses a tumble dryer.

It depends on whether the person dresses themselves or is helped.

• Snap buttons: fastening takes a little fingertip strength. For someone with weak fingers, fastening them alone can be difficult.
• Touch-fastening tape: opens and closes with little force, and suits people who want to dress themselves. When washing, close the tape and use a laundry net to make it last.
• Large buttons: easy to grasp, and easy for a helper to handle too.
• Zips: joining the two ends at the start is fine work. A long zip that starts around the tummy does not need joining.

When the person wants to dress themselves as far as they can, we suggest trying touch-fastening tape or large buttons first.

The kinds and numbers of garments needed differ from facility to facility. Many people feel lost when preparing for the first time, so start with the facility's list of belongings and check these points:

• Who does the laundry, and whether a tumble dryer is used
• Whether pajamas are worn at night, or daytime clothing is kept on for sleeping
• Whether front-opening tops are specified
• Whether names need to be marked on the clothing

If some of the clothing you already have can be used at the facility, there is no need to buy everything new. Please ask us when something is missing, or when you are unsure whether a particular garment will do.

If the move-in date is fixed, let us know early and we will also tell you how long delivery will take.

It depends on the facility's rules and how laundry is done. Being tumble-dryer safe, front-opening, made of stretchy fabric, and easy to label are points that often come up.

It usually means clothing for spending the day in the dining room or bedroom and then sleeping in the same clothes.

Since it will be worn for long hours, rather than ordinary pajamas we suggest clothing like this:

• Soft fabric with little tightness
• A look that is natural for daytime
• Comfortable to lie down in as it is
• Dryer-safe

Thick, very warm fabric can feel hot in bed. If you are unsure, start with fabric that is soft and not too thick.

Yes. We can mark the name on the clothing and deliver it directly to the facility. Names can be marked on socks too.

Name marking adds some days before delivery. If the move-in date is fixed, tell us before ordering and we will check whether it can arrive in time.

If you are unsure about the size, we suggest trying one garment without name marking first, and then ordering the rest with names once the size is settled.

It depends on the garment. If the facility uses a tumble dryer, choosing clothing labelled "dryer-safe" gives peace of mind. Dryer-safe clothing is made to shrink less and keep its size better than ordinary clothing.

Clothing that is not dryer-safe may shrink or the fabric may be damaged in a dryer. Rather than buying a larger size to allow for shrinkage, choosing dryer-safe clothing in the size that fits is more comfortable to wear.

If you would like to know whether a particular garment is dryer-safe, we will check and let you know.

Care facilities are usually air-conditioned all year, so the room temperature changes less than the season outside. Rather than switching to thick clothing, we suggest adjusting with a layer such as a cardigan.

For someone in a wheelchair, a poncho that can be worn over the shoulders or laid over the lap is also handy. It needs no precise sizing and is easy to put on while seated.

Fabric thickness is hard to judge from photos alone. Tell us what you have in mind, such as "a little thinner than midwinter wear", and we will check the actual garment and answer.

Yes. We have pants, pajamas, underwear and more. The range is still smaller than for women, and sometimes we cannot offer what you are looking for. In that case too, we will ask what you need and tell you how to look for it.

You can choose in person at SANKEI Sangenjaya Store, one minute on foot from Sangenjaya Station in Tokyo. You can check the thickness, feel and fit of the fabric while talking with our staff.

We do not have a paper catalogue. Instead, we ask about your wishes and situation, such as "for moving into a facility", "front-opening" or "dryer-safe", and suggest suitable clothing on LINE or by email.

Of course. When we do not have clothing that meets your needs, we tell you so plainly. We do not push something that does not fit.

We may then suggest something close, or tell you how to search at other shops. Even if you do not yet know where to look or what to look for, please feel free to ask.