Advice for Caring for Someone with Incontinence

Are you currently providing home care services to someone that has incontinence? Maybe you aren’t even a professional caregiver; perhaps you are just caring for a family member in your own home that suffers from incontinence, such as an elderly parent. Incontinence is something that is more common than you may think and affects millions of people.

As a person ages, the rate of incontinence increases, and it can lead to both physical and emotional stress and discomfort. Knowing how to best care for someone in this situation will be essential, which is why we’ve got some basic tips and advice.

Incontinence Underpads Will Offer Peace of Mind

One of the most important items you can get for the person who is dealing with incontinence is underpads. These work to provide a waterproof barrier between the person and the item they are sitting or lying on. MIP offers several products for incontinence such as bed pads and chair pads.

Be sure to look for those that are absorbent, stain-resistant, waterproof, and can easily be washed and dried so they can be reused over and over. Choosing reusable pads ends up being a more economical choice in the long-run, and is much better for the environment than the single-use options.

Use Incontinence Products

Incontinence products will also be useful, and these will fit like underwear. When picking the right pad/underwear/pants make sure you pay attention to the absorption level and the fit. If it doesn’t fit snugly, there will be leaks but, at the same time, it needs to be comfortable. Keep in mind that any sort of protective garment that contains rubber or plastic is not ideal as this can actually cause a rash on the skin.

While these products will certainly help to keep the person dry, as they absorb and wick away the moisture from the skin, these should never replace the need for regular bathroom visits. Incontinence products such as these are meant as a backup, or to help the person get through the night a little more comfortably. A regular bathroom routine should be established.

Choose Clothing That is Easy to Take Off

It may also be helpful if the person who has incontinence chooses clothing that is easy to get on and off – at least on the bottom. This can make bathroom visits much smoother and less panicked or stressful. This is more important for those who may also have mobility issues. A great example is items that have elastic or Velcro rather than snaps, zippers, and buttons which can be more cumbersome.

There is No Shame in Incontinence

Finally, you want to be sure that the person you are caring for doesn’t feel embarrassed or ashamed of their incontinence. Incontinence is incredibly common, and there is absolutely nothing they need to hide about it. It’s important that you show patience, care, and compassion towards them.

All of these tips will help you to care for the person that has incontinence in a much less stressful manner.