Ontex Healthcare is committed to encouraging people to talk about incontinence at every stage in life, providing awareness on how to support someone with incontinence.
Despite so much openness about health and wellbeing, incontinence is still a taboo subject.
Many people simply don’t want to talk about incontinence, yet it is estimated that in the in the UK alone there are between three and six million people living with it.
SELF-CARE
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic there is a much greater focus on self-care at home and this applies to all ages, but is particularly important for those who live alone in our communities.
In the UK 3.8 million individuals over the age of 65 live alone, 58 per cent of whom are over 75, around 2.2 million individuals.
It is also a fact that older adults are more likely to visit A&E; visit a GP with around a fifth of persons aged 65+ who live alone visiting their GP once a month, compared to 14 per cent of older persons who live with others.
Many older people living alone are also more likely to have a mental condition.
ADVICE
If you’re caring for someone living at home who is struggling with incontinence, these top five tips may help:
Ensure the person needing care leads a healthy lifestyle
Healthy eating, quitting smoking, undertaking pelvic floor exercises, drinking plenty of fluids and cutting back on alcohol and caffeine are just some of the things that will help someone who is managing incontinence every day.
Look after yourself
As a carer it’s also important to look after yourself as well as those you are looking after. Dealing with incontinence care can be embarrassing and frustrating so it’s important to make sure you have some quality time planned to de-stress.
Maintain good hygiene practices
Wear gloves when dealing with used hygiene products and thoroughly wash your hands afterwards. Make sure that you dispose of the hygiene products and gloves appropriately (in sanitary bins, never down the toilet).
Incontinence care is challenging: try to stay relaxed
Some people may be resistant to receiving help for their incontinence issues as they feel embarrassed or like they lack independence. Humour can also be a powerful tool for lightening a situation and creating trust between you and your loved one, which in turn may alleviate some of their embarrassment or resistance.
Use the right incontinence products
It can be completely overwhelming when there is so much product choice, which is why iD is here to try and provide products for all levels of incontinence from light to severe.
Ontex has recently re-launched its iD Expert Slip and iD Expert Form brands, designed to support for those with moderate to heavy levels of incontinence.
The iD Expert Slip range has been designed for those who no longer feel they have control of their bladder and when urine leakage is heavy and cannot be controlled in any manner.
IN CONTROL
These all-in-one products will help to manage moderate to heavy incontinence and have anti-leak cuffs and waist elastication to ensure a snug fit with a high level of absorption.
The iD Expert Form range has been designed for heavy urine leakage that cannot be controlled. The pads feature an odour control system that locks in any odours to keep you feeling fresh.
Don’t struggle with incontinence, find a perfectly tailored solution that suits you and your level of incontinence.
For more information visit www.id.direct.com or call the Ontex advisory team on 0800 389 6185.