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Senior Care Products: Choosing the Right Incontinence Products for Your Parents

Senior Care in Huntington NY

For many seniors, incontinence is a reality of getting older. Having children, prostate cancer, and many other factors go into having less control over their bladder.  Regardless of the reason behind it, aging adults find it difficult and even embarrassing to cope with the effects.

If your elderly parents are dealing with incontinence, making it a part of your daily senior care plan can be a challenge for both of you. With an estimated 30 percent or more of elderly adults in the community coping with some level of urinary incontinence, however, your parents are definitely not alone.  There is a huge array of products available to help them manage their incontinence while still living the active lifestyle they enjoy.

 Honest and Upfront Conversation

The first step in helping your elderly loved ones manage their incontinence while still enjoying a high quality of life is opening up a clear, honest, and straightforward dialogue about the issue. Your parents may not want to come to you with the problem and may feel uncomfortable or embarrassed talking to you about it, but that makes it even more important for you to take a casual, relaxed approach. Make sure they understand that it is not an uncommon issue, and that there are plenty of ways for you to make it an easy and stress-free part of their senior care.

If only one of your parents is experiencing bladder problems, consider having a private conversation about the issue to ease discomfort. Your parent of the opposite sex may feel more comfortable speaking with your spouse about the issue if they have a close relationship, so gauge the situation and take the time to put everyone at ease so you can find the ideal solutions together. Once your family is comfortable discussing the incontinence together, make sure you discuss it with your parents’ doctors.  They can evaluate your aging loved ones and make sure the incontinence is not a sign of something serious.

 Absorbent Products

Whether your mother has an occasional leak caused by a weakened bladder from having multiple children or your father is incapable of controlling his bladder on a regular basis, absorbent products are the core of your incontinence senior care. Several types of these products are available, so it is important to compare the options and find the ones that work the best for your seniors.

Incontinence pads, which are similar in style to feminine care pads but far more absorbent, fit inside your parent’s normal underwear and provide good protection for minor to moderate incontinence. For more extensive incontinence, look for absorbent undergarments. Today’s incontinence briefs are sleeker than the “adult diapers” of the past and even come in patterns and colors for a more underwear-like look. Both types of products come in male- and female-specific designs to provide optimum absorption, so make sure you choose the one that is right for your parents.

Get in touch with your local senior care agency for advice about home-delivery services to make getting your parents’ incontinence supplies easy and discreet.

 Hygiene Products

Senior care for aging adults with incontinence is about more than just making sure the leakage is contained. You must also take into consideration the health of their skin. Keeping high-quality hygiene products available helps your aging loved ones feel fresher and more comfortable, and helps protect their skin from damage caused by exposure to urine. Equip the bathroom with wet wipes for cleaning during changes and a skin protectant cream that creates a barrier on their skin.

The streamlined designs, highly effective absorbent materials, and convenience of today’s products makes managing incontinence easier than ever before. From the occasional few drips to complete incontinence requiring changes by a senior health services provider, incontinence does not have to be a major obstacle.

If you or an aging loved one are in need of senior care services in Huntington, NY or the surrounding areas, contact the caring professionals at Star Multi Care Services today at (631)956-8835. We are the Right Choice for Home Health Care Services!

Stephen Sternbach

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