Could Psyllium Fiber Help Your Fecal Incontinence?

Could Psyllium Fiber Help Your Fecal Incontinence?

Do you have a fear of farting? Exercise? Being out in public? If you answered yes chances are you are amongst the thousands of adult Americans that have a condition known as fecal incontinence.

Do you suffer from fecal incontinence? It is a condition where you accidentally or involuntarily let out mucus or solid or liquid stool through the rectum. The severity varies from just a little involuntary passage of stool or gas, to complete bowel movements. This can be a condition that is not only embarrassing, but that can lead to isolation and frustration.

There are many ways to treat and manage fecal incontinence, and some prove to be more effective than others. 

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See the World...With Confidence and Incontinence

Don't let incontinence steal your freedom to travel. 

Jennifer, a valued customer, sent us an email about her plans of finally retiring and wanting to see the world. However, like others who deal with incontinence, the freedom to travel seems challenging since leakage can happen at anytime, anywhere. The good news is a Danish company, Abena, produces protective underwear with a close to the body discreet fit for the most active of people. 

3 reasons why Abri-Flex helped Jennifer feel more confident and dignified: 

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5 Easy, Inexpensive Ways to Instantly Improve Home Safety

In recognition of Low vision Awareness Month,
5 easy tips to improve home safety. 

In recognition of Low Vision Awareness Month, we’re providing easy tips to improve home safety and a reminder to download our free fall prevention guide.

February is Low Vision Awareness Month. According to the National Eye Institute, low vision means that even with eyeglasses and other corrective measures, people can have difficulty with everyday tasks. Among the elderly, low vision can contribute to trips, falls and loss of mobility. Falling and fear of falling is a concern for those with low vision, but making a home safer doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.

The facts: Each year, one in three adults age 65 and older falls, and of those, up to 30 percent suffer moderate to severe injuries. Ninety percent of people want to remain in their own homes, where they’re comfortable and have privacy and dignity. Yet, falls or fear of falling are the cause of up to 40 percent of nursing home admissions.

Here are five easy, inexpensive ways to prevent falls by instantly making a home safer:

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Bowel Incontinence - A Whole New Way To Help With an Age Old Problem

Eclipse System Insert  A company in Sunnyvale California, Pelvalon founded in 2010 at Stanford University’s Biodesign program is a collaboration between the schools of medicine and engineering.

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Abri-San Special: The Bowel Incontinence Expert

"I thought I was going to lose it,
taking care of my Dad." 

People all over the world are similar in many respects and dealing with incontinence is no different culturally. A Danish company has developed a pad specifically designed for bowel incontinence. Read Mary’s true story...

“I thought I was going to lose it, 

taking care of my Dad."  

Mary is a real customer who called us one day, saying that she was going to lose her mind trying to take care of her father who was experiencing accidental bowel leakage (not her words… ours - hers were much harsher). She said she had tried all the regular products sold in the stores and found that nothing worked.

She spent way too much time cleaning up and doing laundry. The biggest issue she told us was dealing with her father’s dignity. She remembers him as a big, strong man and now that she is one of his caregivers, maintaining his personal dignity is most important.

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My IBS Led to ABL Which Led to NGO.

Don't let your ABL lead to NGO. 

“My irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) led to occasional accidental bowel leakage (ABL) and was really affecting my social life - not going out (NGO). Every activity had to be carefully planned in advance. I stressed just thinking about meeting a friend. This stress just served to inflame by IBS which led to more ABL.” 

IBS or irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that impacts the bowels, and leads to discomfort, cramps or pain, mucus in the stool, diahrrea, and more. While it may be controlled with medication, diet, and other factors, it can lead to ABL.

What is ABL?

ABL is accidental bowel leakage. It is a condition where the individual experiences sudden and unexpected bowel leakage, whether in the form of gas, or stool. It can be minor, or more severe leakage.

IBS can lead to ABL which can lead to NGO.

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New Help for Those With Accidental Bowel Leakage (ABL)

ABL can have a serious effect on a persons quality of life

Definition of Accidental Bowel Leakage (ABL) or Fecal Incontinence (FI)

Accidental bowel leakage (ABL) is the accidental passing of solid or liquid stool or mucus from the rectum. In medical literature, ABL has been referred to as fecal incontinence, yet for many people, there has been no term to describe this condition and they have simply referred to it as anal leakage, bowel incontinence or simply having a leaky bowel.

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The Great Walker Dilemma

Walking with a cane became a challenge
and a burden for Miss Iva Lou.  

For those who lack mobility or fear falling, a walker is often the first and most important mobility aid purchase. For those who are losing mobility or who lack balance, walkers provide a wide and solid base that facilitates walking and minimizes the risk of falling. In our experience, caregivers will face two important challenges as they help their loved one transition to life with a walker or rollator. 

The 1st Challenge

Unfortunately, first time walker users can be hesitant and even upset at the thought that they may need the assistance of a walker to move around.  My mother used to drive to her grocery store and hunt for a cart in the lot.  On more than one occasion, she'd have to return home because all the carts had been returned to the inside of the store.  She would get so mad when they did that.  The shopping cart was her disguised walker. To my Mom and many others, a walker or rollator can signify a loss of independence and can even be embarrassing. Convincing your loved one that he or she needs the assistance of a walker or rollator can be a large hurdle.

My sweet land lady, Iva Lou, is almost 93 years old. She has been alone in her home for more than 30 years. Iva Lou is a very independent person that takes a great deal of pride in the fact that she is self-sufficient even at her age. When I first met Iva Lou she used a cane to help her balance as she moved around the house. It was apparent that despite the help of the cane, walking had become a challenging burden for Iva Lou. I quickly suggested to Iva Lou that she use a walker to help her move around the house. While not excited by the thought of using a walker, Iva Lou reluctantly agreed and allowed me to bring her a walker. This was a small step that has allowed Iva Lou to regain her confidence and sense of safety at home.

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What Do Women in L.A., N.Y., Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta and Chicago Have in Common?

Please join our community of seniors and caregivers. 

Women who live in these five cities, representing the east, west, south and Midwest areas of the United States, share one thing in common: the resources they use to better care for themselves while taking care of someone else.

Formed in 2004 to help seniors live with normalcy and dignity and make family caregivers’ jobs easier, The CareGiver Partnership is much more than a national online retailer of incontinence products and home health care supplies. We also provide significant caregiver resources on our site and others, including the top social media platforms. In fact, its most engaged, active Pinterest followers are from the cities of Los Angeles, New York, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta and Chicago.

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A Danish Twist on Adult Diapers and Incontinence

A Danish company has figured out how to improve upon Depend. 

People all over the world are similar in many respects and dealing with incontinence is no different culturally. A Danish company has figured out how to improve upon what’s been used here in the U.S. since Depend was first introduced in 1978. 

For those dealing with incontinence, leaks can happen at any time and anywhere. A loved one may be bed-ridden and using adult diapers is the right choice. As a caregiver, dignity is one of your most important considerations. What can you do to help maintain a loved ones dignity? Normlacy helps a person feel more dignified and having to wear a brief or adult diaper that leaks is at odds with this.

The products made in Denmark by a company named Abena are far superior to the brand here in the U.S. you may be familar with - Depend. Abena’s adult diaper, the kind with tape tabs, is 3 more absorbent than the Depend protection with tabs product.

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Accidental Bowel Leakage (ABL) is Surprisingly Common Study Shows

Fifteen million women over the age of 40 experience ABL. 

Accidental Bowel Leakage is a surprisingly common problem. Particularly in women over age 40. According to the U.S. Householder Survey of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: Prevalence, Sociodemography, and Health Impact, fifteen million women over the age of 40 experience ABL, and 50% of those women do not speak up about it. 

This shows while accidental bowel leakage is a common problem, it is not a commonly talked about problem. And that is a whole other problem.

ABL is unexpected, and happens at inconvenient times. For most it is not severe; in a study published in the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences, it was reported that in the U.S., 7.4% of adult men and 6.9% of adult women suffer from minor fecal incontinence defined as staining underclothes or leaking or losing less than 2 teaspoons of stooll2. Ninety percent of people with ABL experience light to moderate leakage. But that does not mean it is not inconvenient, frustrating, and bothersome.

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8 Factors Experts Use To Identify The Best Care For a Loved One

8 factors to be aware of when selecting home care. 

It’s not easy to care for a senior parent at home. Having basic information about professional home care is fundamental, not to mention that you must keep an eye on them all the time. As people age, their brain ages, too; this means that mental and physical abilities will sooner or later start to decline. When loved ones need home care, the process of persuading them to accept help often becomes challenging. The elderly prize their independence more than anything; they don’t want to depend on the kids and they certainly don’t want to become a burden to them. Following are the 8 factors experts say you should be aware of when selecting home care for your aging parent.

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My Doctor Recommended Crisco as a Facial Cream?!

TriDerma. Vanderlaan's answer to her
doctor's recommendation to use Crisco. 

 TriDerma was founded in 1992 after Gloria Vanderlaan had a dermabrasian procedure. With an arduous healing process, Vanderlaan searched for a product to help nourish and heal her skin faster, but her doctor’s only recommendation was to use Crisco, the heavy, greasy cooking oil.

Hesitant to put cooking oil on her raw, peeling skin, Vanderlaan set out on a mission to develop products that would help repair her skin faster, without the use of harmful cortisones, parabens and other damaging drugs. In a short period of time, Vanderlaan created the answer when she established TriDerma’s Certified Genuine Organic Aloe Vera complex.

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How Grandma Clea Regained Her Confidence on Her 90th Birthday

Grandma Clea celebrating her 90th birthday!

Grandma Clea has always been a strong and independent woman. For over 25 years she has lived alone in her home. Grandma Clea, now 90 years old, has had exceptional health that has allowed her to maintain her lifestyle and independence much longer than most seniors. Up until this year she has continued to help out at her son’s business, maintain her beautiful garden, and even drive her precious 4x4 jeep wrangler to church on Sundays.

It all begins with a fall. Late last year, Grandma Clea experienced a slip and fall in her bathroom. Since that day nothing has been the same for her. Her knees, hips, and joints are in a constant state of pain. She can no longer do all the things she once loved.

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Win a FREE Cognitive Therapy Activity Set and Butterfly Liners in This Month's Sweepstakes

This month's prize giveaway includes two items,
valued at more than $295. 

Enter this month for a chance to win an activity set from R.O.S. Therapy and six boxes of innovative Butterfly liners.

Each month, we highlight a family caregiver solution that one lucky winner receives with no purchase necessary and no strings attached. Items to be highlighted and given away are products and services that help seniors live more independently and gracefully in their homes. 

This month’s prize giveaway in our “Helping You Get On With Life” sweepstakes includes two items, valued at more than $295:

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Growing Older Does Not Mean Growing Incontinent

6 reasons why using this incontinence product can be the right choice.

Most people are surprised to learn nearly 25 million people must deal with the challenges of incontinence. When people think of this issue they automatically assume the typical person with incontinence is elderly, ill and possibly even bedridden. However, the reality is the majority of people with incontinence are active, hold jobs, and have full lives. This makes it crucial they are able to find the right incontinence product to help them manage this issue so they can continue on with their daily activities.

Incontinence is not normal. It is important to understand while several of the risk factors for incontinence are more common as we age, incontinence itself is not a normal aging issue. If you are seeking treatment for your incontinence and your doctor simply brushes it off due to aging it is important to find a healthcare provider who will work with you to find the appropriate treatment for your incontinence symptoms.

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TENA for Men. Protection following Prostate Surgery.

Having the right incontinence product can help you
better manage incontinence after prostate surgery.

What doctors don’t always tell you about prostate surgery

Most men feel a huge sense of relief after having prostate surgery or treatment for cancer when it has been successful. However, many of these men can also experience incontinence after having prostate surgery or receiving radiation for prostate cancer. Unfortunately, in some cases they are not made aware of this occurrence in advance. This can be at best disconcerting especially for men who have never had to deal with this issue before. If you are a man in this situation it is important to understand while this can complicate your daily routine for awhile there are strategies which can help you to better manage this issue. Having the right incontinence product is one of them.

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Muscle Damage Was Leading to Accidental Bowel Leakage (ABL)

Tens of millions of men and women experience ABL. 

I have four beautiful children. They are a huge part of my life and bring me a lot of joy. My pregnancies were relatively painless, for which I am so grateful. And I was able to give birth to them without a cesarean-section! 

I like to joke that they better be good because I was pushing for hours to get them out and here. But I know they were worth every minute of anguish and pain. At least most days I feel that way.

All in all, my story is pretty typical. Mom, maid, chauffer, etc. I loved getting out and doing things with my kids. One day we were on a bike ride, and I had a little accident. I could not believe that I, a grown woman, had pooped a little in my pants. I was mortified, and hurried my kids home so I could clean up. The next day when they asked if we could ride bikes again I said, “No.”

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