7 Tips for Caring for a Person with Incontinence
Caring for someone with incontinence can be very stressful. About half of adults experience this embarrassing, uncomfortable, and messy health issue. Cleaning up and minimising accidents are among the primary stresses of caregivers. To help out, below are some tips that can help you look after someone with incontinence.
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Speak with their doctor
Incontinence is associated with ageing, but it's not a normal symptom of ageing. Usually, incontinence is caused by treatable and common medical conditions. So, when you notice some indicators of incontinence, visit a doctor for a thorough examination. It will allow you to determine if there is an infection such as UTI or other conditions that can be treated.
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Follow a bathroom schedule
Older adults can benefit from a regular daily routine, particularly those with dementia or Alzheimer’s. It will allow their bodies to become used to urinating at a certain time of the day. Begin by asking them to visit the bathroom every 1 or 2 hours. Try until you find the routine that works best and follow it. You can minimise the mess of incontinence by using MoliCare's line of products. They provide comfort and peace, protecting the user from leakage.
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Avoid drinks and foods that aggravate incontinence
Incontinence can be a result of various common beverages and foods. Most of these bladder irritants and triggers are not the ones we’d think of. These are:
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Too many fluids
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Too little fluids
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Spicy foods
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Coffee, carbonated drinks, and tea
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Alcohol
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Acidic fruits, such as grapefruits, oranges, limes, lemons, and acidic fruit juices
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Chocolate
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Honey, sugar, and artificial sweeteners
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Tomatoes as well as tomato-based food products
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Waterproof the sofa, mattress, and chairs
In terms of incontinence care, cleaning is a major concern. Leaks could happen anytime, which might cause a smelly mess on your furniture. While dealing with dirty clothes and beddings is easy to handle, the stress and effort to clean and remove the smell on the material is quite challenging. It is best to waterproof everything to reduce the hassle.
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Keep an incontinence care kit every time
To ensure that you are prepared for the condition, ensure that you have extra incontinence pads or briefs, personal cleansing wipes, and a change of clothing and socks.
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Eliminate lingering odours
Lingering odour is another thing that could trouble the caregivers, so it should be taken care of right away. To make the indoor rooms smell fresh, using a disinfectant might not be good enough.
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Diffuse anxiety by using humour
The humiliation and embarrassment that incontinence may create could never be mended. It could even make the person more resentful at night. It's easier to relax if you treat it as a regular part of life. Reassure them that it's all right, and clean up professionally.
Conclusion
All things considered, getting help from a professional caregiver is still the best way to help a person with incontinence with personal toileting and hygiene. Another ideal option is to send them to a care community offering a higher level of care.
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