Many live-in and hourly caregivers in Rhode Island will do anything in their power to keep these seniors out of long-term nursing facilities. If you want to take on the responsibility of caring for a senior with incontinence, you need to know the type of commitment this requires from you. This process may not always be easy, but it will help you keep your loved one at home.
Whether the senior under you care is experiencing urinary incontinence, stress incontinence, urgency incontinence (overactive bladder), or overflow incontinence, you need to provide proper Rhode Island home care. Seniors with any type of incontinence often feel ashamed of their conditions and therefore fail to alert their loved ones of any accidents they have. If this condition is not managed with adequate care, it can lead to an infection.
When a senior is dealing with the challenges of incontinence, in-home care can be a fantastic resource to help him or her regain a sense of dignity and self-worth. As a caregiver, you may be required to offer emotional support during medical treatments. These treatments include medical devices, biofeedback and surgery. Your duty is to transport your loved one to and from medical appointments and encourage him or her to follow the doctor’s instructions back at home. You will also need to pick up any prescriptions at the pharmacy and report any side effects to the doctor.
As a caregiver, you can also supervise home behavior therapies. Doctors can ask your loved one to perform exercises of the pelvic floor muscle, schedule and keep track of bathroom trips, or change his or her diet. As seniors are often forgetful, especially when they are ill, you should be ready to meet your loved one’s needs.
When incontinence cannot be treated or managed with medical and lifestyle interventions, you will need to help with incontinence products and hygiene. These products provide the security that allows patients to remain active and socially engaged. You can shop these products and assist with bedding and skin care as well.
Sometimes managing incontinence is too much for family members to address alone. Turn to Home Care Assistance of Rhode Island today. In addition to our flexible respite care, we also provide specialized Rhode Island Alzheimer’s, dementia and stroke care for seniors with more specific needs. Call (401) 284-0979 today to speak with a trusted Care Manager about your loved one’s needs and how home care can benefit him or her.