Hi, I’m Franne and I’d like to share with you the story of my journey to develop Dignity Pajamas.
It is said that out of sadness and pain great things can come. ‘Dignity Pajamas’ was born out of a need to help my parents retain their dignity while traveling through the end journey of their long lives. Mom was 89 and Dad almost 94 and as they became more frail my parents, like so many, needed round the clock help.
After a protracted illness requiring hospitalization and a relapse, my mother entered hospice care. Her daily needs were administered by a combination of family and staff at her assisted living facility. I had never done anything like this before and had no idea how difficult it was both physically and emotionally. Dressing and changing a frail, elderly or sick patient is a challenge for the caregiver, not to mention hard on the patient.
As a clothing designer for 30 years, I was dismayed that the staff’s solution to making it easier and less disruptive to change my mother was to take a company logo tee shirt and slit the back. Although well intended, not the most dignified or respectful solution.
I rushed out to purchase my mother nightgowns that could easily be adapted and found nothing suitable. I went online and searched. There were only limited choices that were not at the quality or taste level that my mother and perhaps yours, would want to retain her dignity around her loved ones. Sadly, my mother passed away before I solved the problem.
Not too long after, my father, 93 1/2 years young, went through the same process. At that time, I decided he was not going through the same indignity. The day I was told he needed to go into hospice, I went out and in one night roughly re-designed pajamas that were in the taste level and quality that my parents were used to. When I brought them to the facility the next day to have my father changed into them, the professional caregivers loved them, and my Dad smiled weakly and said “you just found your next business. Make something pretty for your mother…” (a little dementia, he forgot Mom was already gone).
And so, this was the beginning of ‘Dignity Pajamas.’ I developed the line, made a website and started to reach out to others to help spread the word. Our parents, grandparents and loved ones deserve our help to preserve their dignity while traveling through the sunset of their lives, as does any loved one who is ill or has limited mobility.
I hope you agree that ‘Dignity Pajamas’ helps them preserve their dignity and appearance with high quality 100% cotton adaptable sleepwear and beautiful styles and details that they deserve in addition to discreet back velcro closures and full coverage. Honor your loved ones, it is a gentler and more respectful solution for both the patient and the caregiver.
All the best,
Franne