Incontinence is very common, but it’s also embarrassing. Your elderly family member might not want to talk to you about incontinence at first, but there are some steps you can take to make the situation less uncomfortable.
Talk about Incontinence Concerns with Your Senior’s Doctor
The very first step to managing incontinence for your elderly family member is to talk with her doctor about what she’s experiencing. There may be medical causes for the incontinence that your senior’s doctor can help find solutions for. Even if there aren’t medical causes, her doctor can set you both on a path to dealing with incontinence.
Set up an Easy Bathroom Schedule
One of the easiest things that you can do is to set up a bathroom schedule for your senior. If she’s regularly emptying her bladder, your elderly family member is less likely to experience leaks or accidents. Visiting the bathroom every couple of hours can be often enough without disturbing other activities that your senior wants to do. Make sure that you let senior care providers know about her schedule so that they can help your aging family member to hit her targets.
Avoid Limiting Fluids
A common misconception is that limiting fluid intake is the answer to managing incontinence. The big problem with that is that your senior can easily become dehydrated if you choose that path. Your senior may also become more susceptible to urinary tract infections, which is not a problem that you want to encourage at all, either. Limiting fluids after dinner, however, can help your senior to sleep at night with fewer bathroom interruptions.
Try a Few Different Incontinence Products
There are a lot of different types of incontinence products out there and not all of them will work as well for your elderly family member as she wants them to work. It’s a good idea to try out a variety of different incontinence products to find the right combination for your senior.
Adjust Plans as Necessary and Stay Prepared
When you find the right combination, look into delivery options from the company itself. Often they will ship directly to your senior’s home and then you don’t have to worry about running out. Make sure to pack extra products for when you and your senior go out. If your aging adult goes out with senior care providers, make sure you’ve got an inconspicuous bag that includes extra incontinence products and a change of clothing, just in case.
As your elderly family member starts to feel more in control of what happens around her incontinence issues, she may gradually feel less embarrassed about what is going on. Being prepared is a huge help when it comes to letting go of those feelings.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care in Oakland, CA, contact the friendly staff at Home Care Professionals today.
Call (866)-940-4855
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