Whether it is an old parent or relative or a small child, taking care of someone with urinary incontinence is not simple. Caregivers have to navigate through to offer the right kind of support without being too insensitive toward what can be perceived as an embarrassing situation for some.
Moreover, caregivers may struggle to find balance in their own lives as they strive to offer care and support for a loved one dealing with incontinence. From finding urinary incontinence treatments to figuring out other technicalities, caregivers have many challenges.
Here are some tips that may help.
Know Your Physical Limitations
Incontinence care might require a lot of physical labor. As a caregiver, you may have to assist your loved one to the bathroom multiple times during the day or night. You may even have to help them clean up themselves or their clothes and surroundings at times. It is a fairly challenging commitment.
Therefore it is important for you as a caregiver to know your physical limitations. Using proper body mechanics will help to reduce injury to both involved parties. Also, it might be wise to have physical assistance if it is difficult to care for the person alone for safety.
Sometimes being a caregiver means long days and sleepless nights providing the needed care. Over time, these factors could take a toll on your physical health. When things start to feel too overwhelming, it is a good idea to reach out for help.
Make A Habit of Carrying An Incontinence Kit During Trips
Having urinary incontinence does not mean that you need to stop living your lives. As a caregiver, you can encourage your patient to step out by preparing an emergency incontinence kit. It will make them feel assured and comfortable on short and long trips.
For example, you can pack some extra underwear, pads and liners, wipes, and other clean-up essentials. You could also include a change of clothes and garbage bags for the soiled clothes.
Show Compassion Wherever You Can
One of the most critical tips that caregivers need to be mindful of is having compassion. It is incredibly important to understand that urinary incontinence can be a frustrating and highly embarrassing condition for anyone to go through. This means that, at times, the person you are caring for may be unreasonable or even angry at you. However, as their caregiver, you need to maintain your composure and have compassion for them. When or if this becomes difficult, please reach out for support. There are support groups and mental health professionals who are equipped to help.
If you want to learn more about bladder issues in women or are looking for solutions for leaky bladder for a loved one, get in touch with our team at The Pelvic Coach.
You can also watch this free presentation on bladder leaks to educate yourself on urinary incontinence and learn how you can help. Go to: thepelviccoach.com/free.
