Activities of daily living (ADLs) are tasks that we all do to care for ourselves each day, including showering, grooming, eating, and dressing. Older adults who can no longer independently perform certain ADLs may seek help from professional caregivers or senior living communities, but others wish to remain independent for as long as possible. One ADL that is a bit more vulnerable and intimate is toileting and incontinence management. Older adults who struggle with toileting and continence may be embarrassed to ask for help. Thankfully, incontinence care products and toileting aids can keep them safe and healthy while remaining independent.
The importance of toileting and incontinence care
Without the right attention to toileting, incontinence management, and proper hygiene, seniors can not experience physical health complications. Infections can occur quickly. A urinary tract infection can cause pain, urgency with urinating, and even acute confusion. Seniors can also experience skin breakdown, pressure injuries, and odor. Improper attention to toileting or incontinence management can lead to feelings of embarrassment, shame, or decreased self-esteem, all of which lead to a lower quality of life.
Unfortunately, incontinence and toileting are often the last things an older adult will seek help with. It is a vulnerable and intimate part of their day that they may choose to handle on their own for as long as possible. Adult children might be unaware of their challenges until they notice a decrease in hygiene, an infection, or skin issues in the perineal area.
Thankfully, incontinence care and toileting products can offer support for seniors and their family caregivers. They enable the senior to complete this activity of daily living independently for longer and keep them safe, clean, and healthy. Let’s explore some options below.
Leakproof underwear
Some seniors, especially women, experience occasional leaks. While this might not warrant wearing incontinence underwear or even pads, the issue might cause the senior to feel self-conscious when at home or out and about with friends. Leakproof underwear is an excellent solution for this situation.
Check out options from Thinx or Knix. Their underwear is stylish, comfortable, and designed to absorb leaks without a pad. They are easy to wash as well. For men, Silverts has a line of underwear that supports mild to medium incontinence.
Incontinence pads
For seniors who experience incontinence at night or might leak through their undergarments, using a pad over their sheets can make cleaning up the bed easier in the morning. Incontinence pads are waterproof and protect the mattress, making them a solid investment even if your loved one doesn’t leak each night.
Look for incontinence pads online or at your local pharmacy. You can choose disposable ones you simply toss in the garbage each morning. You can also find reusable ones you wash and use again.
Peelaways, a company that makes disposable bedsheets to assist family caregivers and seniors, provides a unique take on the product. These sheets are 100% waterproof and can be peeled away to reveal a new sheet whenever the top sheet is soiled.
Portable commode
Some seniors who experience challenges with toileting or incontinence simply cannot get to the bathroom in time. This issue might be due to mobility challenges, balance issues, or even neurological conditions. In these cases, a portable commode can bring the bathroom closer and reduce the risk of accidents, especially at night.
A portable commode is a piece of durable medical equipment often used at the bedside to reduce the time it takes to wake up, sit, stand, and walk safely to the bathroom. These products typically cost less than $50 and can be purchased online or at your local pharmacy. It’s important to keep up with cleaning, including dumping the basin as soon as possible after use, to reduce odor in the room.
Raised toilet seat
Another common toileting challenge is safely sitting down on the seat. While grab bars near the toilet are an excellent solution, so are raised toilet seats, which often include two grab bars on either side. A raised toilet seat shortens the distance from standing to sitting, making independently getting on and off the toilet much easier for seniors with balance, mobility, or strength challenges.
When installing a raised toilet seat, ensure it is sturdy and set firmly on the floor. You might have to move items like garbage cans away from the toilet to make room for the seat. Adjust the height appropriately for your loved one’s needs and range of motion.
Supply storage
Because perineal care is so imperative for this activity of daily living, ensure your loved one can easily reach supplies while on the toilet. Keep a garbage can nearby as a visual cue to throw away incontinence products immediately. Also place a basket of new pads or products within easy reach from the toilet.
Other items to keep within arm’s reach include toilet paper, wipes, and barrier cream. Keeping these items visible can remind the senior to use them. If they are worried about guests seeing their hygiene and incontinence products, store them in a basket you can easily tuck under the sink when company is over.
Consult with an occupational therapist about incontinence care products and toileting aids
Occupational therapists specialize in helping people maintain or increase their independence with activities of daily living. They are experts on the latest incontinence care products and toileting aids that could offer support. Ask your loved one’s physician for a referral to occupational therapy so you can work together to determine the challenges your loved one has and explore potential solutions. With the right products, your loved one can remain safe, healthy, and independent at home.
