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TAKING THE
FIRST STEP
COPING WITH
INCONTINENCE
MAINTAINING
HEALTHY SKIN
HANDLING
DAILY NEEDS
CARING FOR YOU
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Coping
with Incontinence
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Follow these sensible tips to help you deal with
the common challenges of incontinence:
Simplify the situation
Encourage their Participation
Use the Right Tools for the Job
Observe and ask questions
Simplify
the situation
- Design a safe and easy path to the bathroom. Move
furniture out of the way and remove area rugs that
may be a safety hazard. Stairways or cluttered paths
can also make it difficult for some people to reach
the toilet in time.
- Make the bathroom easy to find. Put nightlights
in the hallway and bedroom or leave the bathroom light
on during the night. If the person you are caring
for is confused, try placing brightly colored arrows
on the walls to point the way. You could also place
strips of glow-in-the-dark tape on the floor marking
the path to the bathroom.
- Straining to get in or out of a chair or bed may
put pressure on the bladder. To reduce the strain,
a person's feet should touch the floor while sitting
on the chair or the edge of the bed. Chairs with sturdy
arms above and on either side of the seat can help
provide leverage to get in and out more easily. Rocking
chairs should also be avoided if the person you care
for has difficulty getting out of them. Automatic
lift chairs are available that help raise a person
from a sitting to a standing position with minimal
effort.
- Consider having a man sit down on the toilet to
urinate. You will curb accidents that occur due to
an inaccurate aim.
- Provide time and privacy in the bathroom so the
person you are caring for feels comfortable enough
to completely empty the bladder.
- Remove wet clothing immediately after an accident.
To cut down on urine odor, rinse soiled items immediately.
If you can not rinse fabrics promptly, make sure to
store them in an airtight container or plastic bag
with a room deodorizer placed inside.
Encourage
their participation
- Often, people have incontinence episodes simply
because they have difficulty getting to the bathroom
in time. Getting the person you care for to begin
a simple walking exercise program may increase their
mobility. If necessary, encourage them to use adaptive
equipment like a cane, walker or wheelchair. Whether
they begin a walking exercise program or not, consider
placing a bedpan or commode close to their bed or
chair.
- Plan regular trips to the bathroom. Gradually increase
the interval between trips over several weeks. Make
it a goal to go every two hours - about how long it
takes the bladder to fill with one cup of urine.
Use
the right tools for the job
- If accidents are happening near the toilet, it could
be because the person is having difficulty sitting
down on the toilet. A toilet seat extender that raises
the seat height to a more comfortable level may be
added. The extender may be combined with wall handrails
to makes things easier.
- Consider using an absorbent product to avoid accidents,
and especially at night so you can get some much-needed
rest. Use absorbent products that match your needs
and preferences as well as those of the person you
care for. Your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or other
caregivers may have recommendations that can help
you decide. Specific information on DEPEND® and
POISE® incontinence is available in the Product
Selection Section of this Internet site. Product selection
should be made based on level of absorbency, product
type, size and fit.
Observe
and ask questions
- If the doctor has prescribed diuretics, discuss
with him/her when they should be administered. Make
sure they help the condition for which they are indicated
- but also do not increase incontinence episodes,
especially at night.
- If the person you are caring for can't or won't
communicate with you, observe behaviors that indicate
urination is about to happen.
- When in unfamiliar surroundings, scout out the
nearest available restroom.
- Consult a support group for suggestions from others
who have experienced the same problem first-hand.
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