Practical hints
Proper diet and volume of liquids intake
Keeping a proper diet and drinking a proper volume of liquids are essential in prevention of incontinence. Eating properly will eliminate the risk of constipation, which causes excessive extension of the end of the digestive tract. Thanks to that, the additional pressure on the bladder and urethra is avoided and, as a result, there is no risk of incontinence caused by pressure on the bladder wall. Healthy eating enables also to keep a proper weight and to keep pelvic muscles in good condition. Equally important is drinking a proper volume of liquids during a day. Too little of liquids can reduce volume of urine but it will also reduce volume of the bladder, which may cause polyuria or incontinence episodes.
Exercises strengthening pelvic muscles
Exercises may be a part of a therapy prescribed by a doctor but it’s good to start taking exercise oneself. Exercises give a double effect – a patient learns how to consciously use muscles surrounding urethra, strengthening pelvic muscles and system of urethra closing. It’s essential in “urgency” like cough, sneeze, laugh or physical effort when stress incontinence can occur.
Exercises teach how to control the bladder and sphincter muscles of urethra, they are easy and useful in some kinds of incontinence.
Modification of environmental factors
Elderly people with limited motor activity should have an easy access to the toilet. Also clothes worn should be easy to take off, so that preparation to urinate wouldn’t take too much time. It seems obvious, but often to long preparation is the reason why some elderly people don’t manage to get to the toilet in time.
Bladder training
Bladder training should be done especially by people with incontinence caused by the disorder of lower parts of the urinary tract. The main part of the training is all-day control of urination. A patient fills in a chart of urinating and from the pattern that appears in the chart he or she can work out the proper frequency of emptying the bladder (normally every 2-4 hours). This allows to avoid situations when the bladder is overflowed or a strong urge to urinate occurs. During the training absorbent products should be used to ensure comfort and protection in the case of unpleasant surprises.
Prophylaxis of the urinary tract infection
98% of all cases of urinal tract infection are caused by external factors. Proper hygiene has essential meaning in prevention of that kind of infections. In the elderly, especially in those who are bedridden for a long time, we deal with the decreased immunity to infections as their skin is exposed to long-term influence of irritants, so it is necessary to minimise the risk of urinal tract infections. It is very helpful to use special skin care products for sensitive skin – optimally from one line (composition of products from one line is selected in a way that thay have complementary action).
Hygienic absorbent products
Using absorbent products for incontinence is a perfect solution for active people as well as for those immobilised for a long time. These products give feeling of security and let people with incontinence lead an active life and be involved in social life. Wide range of incontinence products allows everyone to choose a proper product for all types and degrees of incontinence. Modern bladder control pads, anatomically shaped pads and all-in-one SENI diapers have a special “breathable” outer layer, thanks to which the skin can breathe easily and doesn’t get irritated. Moreover, these products don’t have any latex elements, so people allergic to latex can also use them. Absorbent cores of all SENI products contain special antibacterial superabsorbent, which permanently binds urine, giving feeling of dry and reducing giving off the unpleasant smell.
