Incontinence is something that your elderly family member might develop suddenly or over time. She might be able to reverse her incontinence, but until that time, you have to deal with the situation as it is.
Talk to Your Senior’s Doctor
If your elderly family member is experiencing new symptoms of incontinence or changes to her incontinence, then it is time for a checkup with her doctor. Her doctor can recommend other treatment options and determine if the incontinence might be reversible or not. From there you can make other decisions form a more informed standpoint.
Consider Dietary Changes
Dietary concerns can sometimes have an impact on incontinence. You might try starting by tracking what your senior eats and drinks to determine if you can locate any triggers. Some foods, like spicy foods or chocolate, as well as some drinks, like sodas or coffee, can have a big impact on incontinence and might need to be avoided.
Keep Supplies at the Ready
It’s important to have all the supplies you need for incontinence, but it’s even more important that they’re easy to access and convenient. If it’s embarrassing for your senior to have them out in the bathroom, consider putting them in a make-up bag or covered basket. That way they’re accessible without being too obvious. When you go out together, make sure you have a “to go” pack of supplies with you and stock it up often.
Remember to Be Kind
When you’re dealing with an uncomfortable situation and you and your senior are both at the end of your ropes, kindness can do a lot for both of you. A little bit of empathy for what your senior is going through right now will help you both to cope a little bit more readily.
Take Advantage of Help
You may not always have the offers of help that you really want or need and that’s not always something that you can predict. Hiring elder care providers can help you to get the help that you need on a more consistent basis. They can even show you what they’ve learned over time about caring for a senior who has incontinence issues.
Whether your elderly family member’s incontinence issues are reversible or not, it’s important that you’re both dealing with the emotional impact that incontinence can have on your lives. It can help to talk to a therapist or counselor, too. They can help your aging family member managing the feelings that this health issue is bringing up for her.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Denver, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare Denver. Call today: (303) 756-9322.
