Changes To Make To Your Home When You Have Incontinence
Struggling with incontinence can make you resistant to leaving your home, given the concern with losing control of your bodily functions and potentially being embarrassed. While you might be less embarrassed of this common health condition in your own home, you want to take steps to reduce the risk of an accident when you're home. Seeing a medical practitioner for advice and wearing the necessary undergarments can be a start, but there are also some changes that you can make to your home itself. Here are some ideas that anyone struggling with incontinence can implement.
Use Furniture Covers
Being incontinent and sitting on the furniture in your home won't necessarily mix. Losing control of your bladder, for example, could leave your couch with a stain and an odor that may be difficult to remove. The simple solution is to buy furniture covers. These products are often available at stores that specialize in medical supplies for the home, and are also available for purchase online. You can measure your couches and padded chairs to ensure that you get covers of a suitable size. These covers are made from liquid-resistant material; if you have an accident, you can quickly sop up the liquid from the surface of the cover and take comfort in knowing that the furniture is protected.
Invest In A Bed Pad
Many people who struggle with incontinence will lose control of their bladder while sleeping, leaving a big mess to clean upon waking up. While cleaning the mess is a hassle, the graver concern is damage to your mattress to the point that it smells badly enough that you need to replace it. You can avoid such a problem by investing in a bed bad. This soft pad is placed over your mattress but beneath your fitted sheet. It will repel moisture to keep the mattress dry.
Remove Physical Challenges
When you have incontinence, you may face a sudden urge to use the bathroom. In this panic-filled situation, you won't have the time to navigate a complicated path between you and the toilet. Make sure that there are no physical challenges that could get in the way by always being sure that the path to the toilet is clear. Don't put down several bags of groceries in the hall outside the bathroom, for example, as these could impede your ability to get to the toilet in a timely manner. Likewise, make sure that the bathroom door is always left open. For further information on treating incontinence, visit a website such as Advanced Urology Associates.