By Dr. Paromita Sengupta
Urinary
incontinence is common in older people. Unfortunately, out of all the health
issues which come up with aging, troublesome bladder is the most challenging
one. The most common types of urinary incontinence are stress incontinence (a
condition in which you lose urine during general physical movement or
activities like coughing, laughing, sneezing or exercising) and overactive
bladder incontinence (an urge to urinate so intense you lose urine before
you’re able to get to the toilet). Sometimes, the bladder does not empty, and
the person experiences frequent leaking of urine. This condition is called
overflow incontinence. Many a time, due to old age or health conditions like
arthritis, it gets difficult for a person to reach the bathroom on time, and they
might end up soiling the clothes, a condition called functional
incontinence.
The
cause can be many, including a weak bladder muscle, diabetes, Parkinson’s
disease, an enlarged prostate in men, to name a few.
Many
a time elders feel embarrassed and live in denial of incontinence. Initially,
for many years, my 75-year old aunt could conceal it from us. She would rush to
the toilet, hide the dirty clothes and clean them later, or sometimes discard
the heavily soiled ones. With years, it became difficult for her to hide away
her challenges. Now, to bring up the topic of diapers in the open air seemed
extremely tough. It was not easy for me
to persuade the woman who used to change my diapers and taught me to change my
son’s diaper, to start using diapers for herself. However, the conversation did
take place with a few drops of tears and tight hugs, and with a promise to
remain strong, happy and transparent to each other. Aunt agreed to share her
diaper related issues with me. Initially, adjusting to the new ornament was not
easy for her. She always felt itchy, sweaty, and complained of rashes. There
were days when she would deliberately forget to wear them or hid the last few
pieces and say that there were no more diapers left in the packet. With time,
for her, diapers became as indispensable as her spectacles. Today, my aunt uses
diapers regularly. She has also started to do yoga and other pelvic floor
exercises to strengthen her bladder muscles. She encourages her peer group to
wear diapers, do exercises and remain happy.
The
elderly care market is sensitive to the fact that seniors feel embarrassed to
buy/wear adult diapers. They have come up with simple solutions to normalize
the situation. A recent article posted in huffingtonpost post mentions how companies are
trying various methods to change attitudes, including making products more
discreet, avoiding terms like diapers or nappies, and placing items in the
personal care aisle, next to deodorants and menstrual pads, rather than in the
baby products section.
The
family members and caregivers should support the elderly to discuss their
problems openly and together as a team, try to find a solution. Elders should
be encouraged to exercise regularly to strengthen the pelvic and bladder
muscles, eat healthy, control body weight, and visit doctors to discuss
incontinence. When in need, they should be supported to wear diapers, happily
and confidently.
In
the coming weeks, AllForSRS will share articles on the conservative ways to
treat urinary incontinence.