How To Overcome The Embarrassment Of Elderly Diapers

By Author: Harleen Kaur
Total Articles: 89
Comment this article

If you have been struggling with incontinence, bowel or urinary, or both, chances are you are using elderly diapers to manage your condition. It is well-known how common and normal it is to develop this health issue as you grow older. You can even develop incontinence issues while still fairly young due to many different medical reasons including certain surgeries, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, mental disorders, pregnancy and so on. And yet, even in this day and age, it is still taboo to use adult diapers for dealing with this condition. This is what discourages several thousands of people across the world from using diapers to prevent urine leakage; and many of those who do use them, tend to feel embarrassed because of it. Though unfortunate, it is the sad reality of our society. But the good news is you can do much to normalise the use of diapers for adults and help your loved one lead a life of dignity. Here’s how you can do that.

Stop referring to them as ‘diapers’
The word ‘diaper’ is generally associated with babies who are helpless, dependent and unable ...
... to take care of themselves. Referring to an incontinence brief with this name hurts the ego of the elderly who may have once taken care of you as a child. Hence, it is best to call diapers for old age with the appropriate title of either disposable briefs, incontinence underwear or by their commercial or brand name.

Talk to your seniors
If your elderly parent or any other family member is suffering from incontinence the best way to destigmatise the use of elderly diapers is by talking about them. Do not be condescending while you bring up the topic of diapers with them but instead be respectful and courteous. Pragmatically reason with them for using diapers. Let them know that for their health’s best, adult diapers are necessary so they can sleep peacefully through the night and don’t have to contract infections due to wetness.

Discuss the benefits of elderly diapers
Discussing the myriad benefits of disposable incontinence briefs is by far the best way to convince any person to use them. You can tell them the following:
Adult diapers can prevent accidents thus saving them from embarrassment
They can soak up fluid effectively, thereby keeping them dry and comfortable
Modern-day diapers are also much thinner and therefore quite discreet which means they can stay a secret
They do not have to visit the washroom again and again which is especially beneficial for night when they can enjoy fulfilling and restful sleep
They can stay active, go out in public, visit friends and relatives, and live a free life
They can also travel without stressing about the availability of public restrooms
Diapers for seniors can greatly help to reduce their anxiety and general stress that revolves around accidental urination, bedwetting and the resultant humiliation

By knowing and visualising their life post using diapers your loved one may be better able to understand the value of incontinence products and may begin using them.

Appeal to their vanity and pride
Pride is what prevents your loved one from using a diaper because, a) they associate it with babies which they certainly are not, and b) because they do not want the world to know that they have bladder control issues. In this scenario, you have to make them understand that it is better to use a diaper for old age than to have an accident in public and be more embarrassed than they ever have to be using them. Help them see that it is not such a big issue to suffer from urinary incontinence and use diapers to manage it but certainly is if you stay in denial or ignore the possible consequences.

Get help from a friend or doctor
If they refuse to listen to you, understand that it is hard for them to take the advice of someone so younger than themselves, especially when they must be used to advising you as a child. Here is when you need to take the aid of a trusted and respected outsider such as a family friend or physician that they trust and respect. If such a person reasons with them or advises them to use an adult diaper, it will be more effective and they are likely to agree.

Be patient
It is possible that despite you trying everything with them, they may still refuse to wear elderly diapers. In this case, you need to be patient and keep trying to change your mind with words and actions of compassion and understanding. You need to step into their shoes to understand their point of view and deal accordingly.

Conclusion
It may be hard to turn something so deeply etched as a taboo in our society and change it for the sake of our loved one but it is still possible. So, keep at it and help them with the best adult diapers to stay free, active and respectable at all times.