A common issue for seniors receiving elder care at home is incontinence. In fact, more than 50 percent of American seniors struggle with incontinence, with 25 percent of those people suffering from moderate, severe, or very severe urine leakage, and 8 percent experiencing that same level of leakage of the bowel.
It is an uncomfortable discussion for both seniors and their family caregivers, but there are ways that you can get support and help in dealing with the issue which may make it a little easier on both parties.
If your senior parent or loved one is having incontinence issues, here are some tips for handling it:
Avoid known triggers.
Sometimes, there are certain food or beverages that are known to contribute to bouts of urinary or fecal incontinence in your senior. Pay attention to foods and food types that they have eaten to see if you can notice a pattern developing which will help you to know what things to have them avoid.
Look for underlying cause.
Certain medications and diseases can cause incontinence, so it is important to talk to your senior parent’s medical professional to rule out any underlying issues that may be the reason for the development of their incontinence.
Be prepared.
It is a good idea to be prepared at all times for accidents that may happen. Make a bag and keep wipes, ointments or creams, deodorizing spray, a bag for soiled clothing, and a spare change of clothes for your senior. Have a bag that is readily available whenever you leave the house, or keep one in your senior’s car.
Adjust fluid intake.
If your senior is drinking lots of fluids and you are noticing a direct result in urinary incontinence, consider limiting their fluids to see if it helps with the issue. Talk to their doctor about the proper amount of liquids they need to keep from being dehydrated, and limit liquids at certain times when they are more likely to have issues or accidents.
Schedule bathroom breaks.
If your parent seems to be rushing to the bathroom and has issues with not making it there in time, try scheduling regular bathroom breaks and making sure that they adhere to them. It is important that they not wait until the last second and quickly try to make it to the bathroom where they risk falls and other injuries because they may be in a hurry.
Hire help.
Finally, hiring help can be a huge relief to both family caregivers and seniors with incontinence themselves. Sometimes, due to embarrassment or modesty of a senior, it can be more difficult for them to deal with incontinence issues with a family member such as a son or a daughter or other close relative. Hiring trained professionals to help with incontinence and elder care allows you to focus on other things and also to get your parent the very best care that they deserve.
If you or an aging loved one needs Elder Care in Davis CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
source:
https://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/news/20140625/over-half-of-seniors-plagued-by-incontinence-cdc#2
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-incontinence/symptoms-causes/syc-20352808
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