Incontinence is more common in the elderly and can be a pretty embarrassing condition. When a person suffers from this condition, it can be very difficult to make it to the bathroom in time. Although there is no cure for incontinence, it can be managed. Here are five tips for dealing with incontinence in elderly people.
Buy Him the Right Protection
One of the best ways you can help your incontinent elderly loved one is to buy him the right protection. For example, you can buy him protective underwear in case he has an accident. They are easy to take on and off and are not noticeable. If your elderly loved one is in a wheelchair, you may want to buy him adult diapers.
Use Waterproof Underpads
If your elderly loved one is incontinent, it is a very good idea to use waterproof underpads. These underpads will prevent leaks from getting onto the sheets and mattress. If you place waterproof underpads on his bed, it will not get ruined.
Set a Bathroom Schedule
Another way you can help your elderly loved one deal with incontinence issues is to set a bathroom schedule. This way, he can relieve himself before it is too late. For example, you can set an alarm to remind him to go to the bathroom every hour. If you do not have time to monitor his bathroom breaks, consider hiring an in home caregiver, from a company like ComForcare Home Care - Macedonia, OH, to help him out.
Consider a Portable Commode
If your elderly loved one has trouble making it to the bathroom all the time, consider putting a portable commode in his bedroom. If he has the urge to go and can't make to the toilet in time, he can use the portable commode.
Encourage Kegal Exercises
You can help a senior manage his incontinence by encouraging him to practice kegal exercises. They can help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, helping your elderly loved one keep his urine in. Tell him to squeeze his pelvic floor muscles for about 10 seconds. Have him repeat this exercise 10 to 15 times. If he does these exercises on a daily basis, he should notice an improvement within a few months.
If you follow these helpful tips, you can help your elderly loved one deal with incontinence a lot easier. Make sure to always be there for him and offer him support when he needs it the most.
Share10 November 2014
My name is Katie Langer. For a long time, I was bed ridden and I felt like I had no control over my life. I simply went along with what was instructed by my doctor and I didn't ask questions. It wasn't that my doctor wasn't willing to work with me, but I preferred to simply not think about the illness I was suffering from. I didn't realize that some of the symptoms I was suffering from were side effects of my medication and were not normal. After communicating more with my doctor, I was able to alleviate my symptoms. Since then, I've taken an interest in patient-doctor relationships and how to improve them.
