This is a very touchy and difficult situation for anyone. It is extremely embarrassing and humbling to many, to have to ask for help. Elderly people have always been used to taking care of themselves.
Most have lived through the Great Depression, and WWII, and think they can handle this themselves. Put yourself in their shoes before even attempting to help. You must be patient. This is the number 1 way to help them progress with mobility and incontinence.
The second way is to provide comfort and ensure them, that they too can live productive lives, even with mobility and incontinence issues.
Third, once you can convince an elderly person that they can still go about their lives, whether it be with a cane, walker, wheelchair, or even mobility scooter, you need to address their incontinence issues. This will be one of their main objections to going out. They have a fear of not making it to a nearby bathroom or being able to use facilities fast enough.
You may ease their minds by showing them all the products that help make life easier, so they enjoy a good quality of life, even with their disabilities.
Number four. Introduce them to mobility and incontinence clothing. Many different clothing products are just for certain needs. If you are an amputee, there is clothing, both arm and or leg that have zippers or easy snap buttons for easy access to the prosthetic, or to make taking clothes on and off so much easier, and the best part, by themselves, without help.
If the elderly person has no physical disabilities that hamper mobility and incontinence, there is clothing just to make getting dressed, a snap. They come in assorted styles and varieties. They have snaps, buttons and zippers in all the right places to make them more independent when getting dressed and undressed for the day.
The same goes for Alzheimer patients. There is a variety of easy slip-on clothing, such as sweat pants and shirts. Cardigans and sweaters are made of extra stretchy fabrics to pull off and on without struggling. There are pull-on pants, shorts, shirts, skirts and more, so they can still keep a fashionable sense.
For the fifth suggestion, you must approach the incontinence issue with sensitivity, while still informing them of possibilities, of Safety and Mobility incontinence clothing. Most people are embarrassed to have help, and if they could easily undo themselves, they would prefer it. These clothing are also usually pull up, with stretchy elastic for ease of up and down movement. Men’s pants even come with Velcro fronts.
There are also options for people in wheelchairs, or that a harder time getting up and down, plus the worry of pulling clothing up and down. There are men’s pants that cutaway bottoms. The same is done for women’s dresses for ease of using the facilities. Of course, it is a good idea to have an ample supply of undies for men and women, which are also tailored for specific needs.
It does not stop there. Pants also have side zippers, so that you can loosen the pants for easier undressing. The dresses are designed with this in mind too. Don’t forget the footwear. For those with swelling problems, specialty socks are required to relieve pressure. There are also a great number of shoe options. Velcro shoes help with those that have a hard time bending over and tying. There wash and wear shoes for those accidents that occur. No matter the need, there is clothing for it.
The sixth rule is just persistence and patience, always.
Senior Outlook Today is your go-to source for information, inspiration, and connection as you navigate the later years of life. Our team of experts and writers is dedicated to providing relevant and engaging content for seniors, covering topics such as health and wellness, finances, technology and travel.
