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Managing elderly incontinence as a caregiver

This entry was posted in August 9, 2023

caregiver helping elderly man with meal time

Caregivers are empathetic, patient, encouraging, respectful… As a caregiver, you are their hand when they need to eat, you are their shoulder when they need a cry, you remember their grocery list when they go shopping, you become their emotional support when they need someone to talk to. You become so much more than just a caregiver tending to the needs of someone with limitations. More than 3 million people over 65 in our UK population suffer from incontinence in some form, and caring for someone with those kinds of issues can be challenging on top of all the other demands of the job. There are many different types of incontinence and establishing a routine between you and your patient is so important for the effectiveness of the issue.

Firstly, you would need to complete a thorough assessment to diagnose the case of incontinence and the severity. If you are not qualified to complete such assessment you should contact their local GP practice and book in an appointment with their nurse or doctor. During the assessment you would need to determine how often the incontinence issues are taking place and at what times of the day. Try and gather as much information regarding the individuals’ day-to-day routines, fluid intake and diet (as quite often this can trigger incontinence), prescriptions and abilities.

Once you’ve carried out the assessment and implemented the required steps to reduce the issues: fluid intake, constipation and urinary tract infections. You can then start with treatment options to soften the effects of incontinence: pads and pants, bed protectors, toileting accessories. It’s also important to remember practical elements to make not only your patient's day-to-day life easier but yours too: clothing fasteners or elastic waistbands for clothes for ease of removal for you as the carer, all clothing is machine-washable, pack an incontinence care kit with you wherever you go (extra pads and pats, personal wipes, change of clothes) and potentially and odour reducer to eliminate and disinfect anything lingering in the air.

Maintaining dignity in old age, and in the face of incontinence, can be very difficult, and it is vital that your patient, relative or loved one feels happy and comfortable with you as their caregiver. The person you are caring for may be deeply distraught and embarrassed about their incontinence, but as their caregiver you need to ensure you provide a safe space for the person to talk openly about their situation with you. If you need any more advice Age UK and the Better Health Channel have a great online platform for incontinence related issues.

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How to manage incontinence at night?

This entry was posted in August 3, 2023

Whatever time of the day you are dealing with incontinence, can seem like an uphill battle. But struggling with incontinence during the night can seem impossible to manage as it disrupts your sleep and lifestyle. Sleeping helps us to revive our bodies, it helps us to repair and prepare for the next day ahead. While your asleep, there are many other active elements of your body at work and broken sleeping patterns can lead to mood swings, impaired judgement, memory issues and greater risks of infection.

So, what are first steps to take you can take today to manage your incontinence during the night?

Incontinence issues can happen to you no matter your age or walk of life, incontinence doesn’t discriminate or take any prisoners. But you are not alone. Don’t suffer alone. Take these steps to minimise your sleep interruptions as much as possible and make your nighttime routine more effective.

  1. Wear Protective Underwear or Pads - Admitting you need extra protection at night is not something any of us would find easy to come to terms with, but wearing incontinence pants or pads that are specifically designed for use at nighttime is not something to be ashamed of. We stock a large range of premium continence care products which you can browse here.
  2. Protect your Bedding - No one likes washing bedding, none of us start the week and think wow I can’t wait for bed washing day. But when it comes to incontinence changing your sheets becomes an even bigger chore than before, as most the time it can mean changing your sheets a lot more often. You can purchase disposable bed pads and washable bed pads which are highly absorbent and act as a waterproof mattress protector to prevent any leakages touching your new sheets.
  3. Limit your fluid intake before bed – Nightly incontinence can be intensified by your lifestyle but more specifically by: the time in which you are drinking, what you are drinking and how you’re drinking. With that in mind it’s best to try and avoid drinking any liquids 2 hours before you go to bed and if you do need a drink, stick to water and take small sips as and when your thirsty (no doses of caffeine before bed!).

If you find your still struggling after taking these steps, it might be best to contact a professional and book an appointment to discuss your concerns. We have a Ableworld continence care guide which you browse if your still in need of a little more help. As we all now know, DO NOT take a good night’s sleep for granted.

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