by Lynn Wilson, Co-Founder of The CareGiver Partnership
 |
| Lynn Wilson |
Incontinence affects more than half of the elderly who are
homebound or in long-term care, according to the National Association For
Continence. Because this condition affects residents at all types of senior
living and assisted living facilities, finding best practices for managing
urinary and bowel incontinence is a concern for staff. Here is information
for residents in any care environment that helps them recognize the types of
incontinence and choose products based on gender, activity level and absorbency
needs.
Incontinence Types and
Tips
Stress: The most common type among women, stress
incontinence can cause urine leakage while exercising, coughing, sneezing,
laughing or lifting, due to pressure on the bladder, weakened muscles and/or
damaged nerves.
Tip: Women with stress incontinence may lead active lives,
so look for products made to fit a woman’s body comfortably, from a pad for
light leakage to pull-on underwear.
Urge: Common among the elderly, urge incontinence is
characterized by a sudden urge to urinate, with little bladder control. Marked
by a need to urinate more than seven times daily or twice nightly, it may be
caused by an overactive bladder or a result of injury, illness or surgery.
Tip: Because the urge to urinate is sudden and frequent, an
individual may prefer pull-on underwear that can be pulled up and down like
regular underwear.
Overflow: Individuals with overflow incontinence
can’t completely empty their bladders, resulting in frequent urination,
constant leakage or both. Causes include a blocked urethra and weakened bladder
muscles due to nerve damage.
Tip: For those experiencing constant leakage, look for
products in heavy or overnight absorbency and made of skin-friendly, odor-fighting
materials. For extra protection, booster pads can be worn with other
incontinence products. Men recovering from prostate surgery may choose Guards
for Men, which are worn inside underwear.
Functional: Common among the elderly with arthritis, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, those with functional incontinence are unable to control their bladders before reaching a bathroom because of limitations in moving, thinking or communicating.
Tip: For complete loss of bladder or bowel control, choose briefs/adult
diapers, for maximum protection and tape tabs for easy changing. Separate
underpads can help protect surfaces like beds and chairs.
Mixed: Women commonly experience a mix of both stress
and urge incontinence. The causes of each type may or may not be related.
Tip: Look for products made to fit a woman’s anatomy, which
may include oval-cut leg openings and absorbency where it’s most needed.
Anatomic or developmental abnormalities: An abnormal
passage between the bladder and another structure or a leak in the urinary
system can cause incontinence. Also, patients who have nervous system damage
may have a neurogenic bladder, in which case the bladder is underactive or
overactive.
Tip: Depending on the level of incontinence, these wearers
may choose from pull-on or adjustable underwear, pads or guards, or
briefs/adult diapers.
Temporary: Incontinence may be a temporary result of
severe constipation, infections, or certain medications, such as diuretics,
muscle relaxants, narcotics, antidepressants, antipsychotics or calcium channel
blockers.
Tip: Choose pads for light leakage, undergarments for medium
absorbency, or briefs/adult diapers with or without booster pads for maximum
protection.
Resource for
Facilities, Residents
The CareGiver Partnership provides information, tools, and
assistance for care facility staff and residents, to help them manage
incontinence with dignity and ease. Here’s how we can help:
- More than 500 incontinence products available online
- Free, personalized advice from product specialists or a physician’s assistant
- Incontinence Product Finder and other online tools
- More than 100 different product samples to try before buying
- 5 ways to order: toll-free telephone number, e-mail, online form, fax or letter
- Free direct shipping that’s fast and reliable ($50+)
- Never Run Out (sm) automatic delivery service
- Free informational brochures for facilities to provide to residents
- Free four-color catalog containing money-saving coupons
- More than 1,100 articles on managing incontinence, skin care, product budgeting and reimbursement, and other issues related to aging
Lynn Wilson founded The CareGiver Partnership based on her experience in
caring for loved ones as well as providing the highest level of customer
service. She takes pride in offering personalized service that helps her
customers find the best solutions for their individual needs. Now that her
children are grown, Lynn enjoys spending time with her granddaughter while also
helping to care for her mom. To find out how The CareGiver Partnership can
serve you, call 1-800-985-1353 M-F 9-4 CST.
3 comments:
Absolutely true. Substantially this is really the reality in the incontinence world. Its tiresome and sometimes embarassing When you are experiencing bladder weakness or any incontinence condition.No matter the cause of the problem, it is advisable to make certain you seek medical treatment since there are actually ways to deal with the condition.Managing incontinence needs proper supervision and right use of incontinence products.
Incontinence Products... thank you for your feedback. You are correct in that a person with incontinence should talk to their medical professional as there may be treatments available.
Very good explanation of the causes of incontinence. People can also experience incontinence due to medical conditions such as spinal cord injury, spina bifida, etc.
Post a Comment