Caring for the Incontinent
Every caregiving situation is unique and every individual has different care needs. Providing sensitive assistance gives your loved one their sense of self, which is so important for maintaining self esteem.
Encouraging Self-Care
- Allow the person to do as much as possible without your help. No matter how small the activity, participation is important.
- Ask what you can do to encourage independence. If the person cannot perform a certain activity, see if there is a part that can be done. For example, perhaps it’s easy to brush the front of the hair, but your help is needed in reaching and styling the back.
- Adapt surroundings to allow more independence. You may be able to install equipment such as grab rails in the bathroom, wheelchair-accessible sinks and mirrors, bath bench for the shower or tub, exchange round door knobs for easier-gripping door handles, and lights with switches that are easily reached.
- Design a safe and easy path to the toilet. 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 coloured 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.
Encourage their participation
Often, people have incontinence episodes simply because they have difficulty getting to the toilet 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 toilet. 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.
