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By Jennifer Bradley, Staff Writer
A symptom such as
incontinence truly requires a caregiver’s patience
and loving heart. It can be one of the most
sensitive issues a loved one can experience.
However, there are ways to manage incontinence so
quality of life is not compromised.
Emotions
Conquering the fear and embarrassment a loved one
feels because of incontinence is one of a
caregiver’s main challenges. The fear of being
wet and then being discovered, especially in public,
is emotionally straining. Many people with
incontinence may refuse to leave their homes in
order to be close to a bathroom. This behavior
really leads to unnecessary isolation and robs a
loved one of time with friends and family.
The first step is for a caregiver to recognize
that incontinence may be the reason their loved one
is hiding out. Many people do not realize the extent
that incontinence is affecting their lives. A
caregiver may be able to notice it first and help
their loved one address the issue.
Professional therapists suggest that a person
suffering from incontinence should make it a point
to do something they usually would every day, and
complete the task or outing as normal. Whether
going to lunch with friends or visiting family,
being a part of daily life while learning to manage
incontinence will boost a loved one’s self esteem
and confidence.
Products
There are a variety of products on the market that
can help achieve this goal: maintaining quality of
life with incontinence.
A caregiver should always give their loved one a
choice. Many products are available and picking just
one, expecting someone else to like it, may result
in greater conflicts than resolutions. Look for free
samples, as many companies will offer them.
First, a person may want to try disposable
protective underwear. They work best for mild to
moderate incontinence, pull off and on like regular
underwear, and have a cloth-like outer layer for
comfort.
Disposable adult diapers are designed for
moderate to heavy incontinence and are available in
a variety of fit, absorbency and capacity.
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