Ageing is an inevitable part of life, but for many, it can also be a process that brings challenges and constraints. While many ageing people will experience incontinence, it’s certainly not an inevitable outcome for all.

High-quality continence management products can greatly benefit individuals of all ages dealing with incontinence. However, it is important to avoid using these products without proper evaluation and develop an individualised approach, ensuring that the right products are used for the right person.

By padding someone and instructing them to just “wee in the pad” we are facilitating in training the bladder to loose control and for the person to become truly incontinent. If you’re unsure whether or not your ageing loved one requires continence management support, here are the areas of consideration that can help to simplify the ageing process.

As our loved ones age, the role of caretaker and caregiver can go through an inversion process. Grown children now contribute to the daily care and wellbeing of their ageing parents. This can be a difficult process for some, being unprepared for the physical, mental and emotional changes that these changes bring. That’s why it’s so important for families to work together, prioritising open communication, dignity and respect throughout the decisions required as life changes.

Emotional resilience plays a key factor not only in the mental wellbeing of your ageing loved one, but also in their physical health. A 2014 study by the Centre for Policy on Ageing defines resilience in older age as ‘the ability to stand up to adversity and to “bounce back” or return to a state of equilibrium following individual adverse episodes.’ Its summary identified many benefits of maintained and increased resilience in older age, including better health and wellbeing, as well as higher levels of social and communal interactions.

By supporting the ongoing capacity for resilience in our ageing population, we can encourage richer, more dynamic daily lives underpinned by a stronger sense of connection, purpose and positivity.

Much of incontinence’s daily impact can be reduced through healthy toileting habits. These small lifestyle changes can have a significant impact, minimising the challenges of incontinence through the course of each day. These changes include:

• Only urinating when your bladder is full, rather than trying to urinate ‘just in case’. This is a crucial step in training bladders to wait until they’re genuinely full before they send the signal to urinate.
• Having patience during toileting. By allowing urine to flow at its own speed, you can protect the integrity of your pelvic floor.
• Using the correct posture on the toilet. Footstools, combined with placing your elbows on your knees, straightening your back and pushing out your stomach, can all help when it comes to the proper passing of bowel movements.

By supporting healthy toileting for your loved one, you can create an ongoing process that enables active daily living, even with incontinence at play.

As we age, maintaining a high quality of life becomes increasingly important. This includes preserving independence, health and overall well-being. One way to support this is by empowering your loved one to take an active role in managing their own health. This not only helps to maintain their dignity and autonomy but also allows them to have a greater sense of control over their own well-being.

If your loved one is experiencing incontinence due to aging, using high-quality continence management products can help maintain their dignity and independence. By identifying the appropriate products for their specific needs, managing incontinence can be made easier. This can lead to an increase in confidence and allow them to fully participate in daily activities, hobbies and social interactions.

Aging Life Care Journal writes that ‘resilience does not just appear when one needs it most. Rather it is engendered by mentally engaged lifestyles, physical fitness, social support, and a sense of active agency in controlling one’s life.’ Sometimes, the simple support offered by the right continence management product can be the difference between a sense of active agency or a feeling of a lack of control.

While some people experiencing incontinence may lead fairly sedentary lifestyles, others are highly active, looking for continence management products that can keep up with a busy life. As incontinence can impact people of all ages, it’s important to find a continence product that keeps up with your lifestyle needs, equipping you to go about your day with confidence.

Those with a more active lifestyle often find that pants and pads are a great choice, as they’re easier to change throughout the day, and can be managed by a single person rather than needing support.

With a high percentage of elderly nursing home residences experiencing incontinence, it’s also common for many people to require assistance in changing their incontinence products. Different products are more appropriate for those who are sedentary, with easy changing options a plus for those who are assisting a resident or loved one throughout the day.

Struggling to identify what’s important in your choice of continence management products? Here are some easy tips to ensure you’re supporting your loved one’s incontinence with high-quality, trustworthy pads and pull-ups.

• The perfect fit. Continence management products must fit comfortably and snugly in order to be effective. If a pad or pull-up doesn’t fit properly, the risk of leakage or spillage increases significantly, costing peace of mind and comfort for the wearer.
• Advanced performance. If a continence management product isn’t explicit in stating how well it performs, this may be a cause for concern. ConfidenceClub’s exclusive European-made product range utilises unique advanced technologies to deliver higher absorbencies, better odour control and a more comfortable fit, all within a thinner pad.
• One easy way to check the quality of a continence management product? Take a look at what its wearers have to say! Online reviews can offer great insights as to whether or not a product delivers on its promises.
• Ease of access. Forget spending hours driving from store to store just to look for the right continence management products, only to arrive home, find they don’t fit, and be stuck without a money-back guarantee. ConfidenceClub offers discreet delivery right to your door, saving time and energy on a regular basis. With our It Fits Or It’s Free guarantee, there’s no financial risk in purchasing our products: if they don’t work as anticipated and need, you’ll receive your money back.
• Above-and-beyond service. ConfidenceClub’s ‘Never Run Out Service’ means you’ll never be left without the supply your loved one needs for daily life. With a unique, convenient option that allows you to automate repeat orders, delivered on a schedule that perfectly suits your needs, never lift a finger again - while never running out.
  

Find dignity and support for your loved one with ConfidenceClub, and support ongoing resilience through many years of happy, healthy ageing.