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STP Asked March 2015

How can I get my client to wear her diapers?

My client is incontinent and she does dribble often and so trip to bathroom many times. the bed.... I'm using water proof bed pad. She is 92, so far never had UTI awhile with her last 3 years and love to drink waters that's good thing. I do not want to tell her " take it easy with water"

lighthouseman71 Apr 2015
Not calling diapers - diapers is downright insulting to ones intelligence. I've had a medical issue that caused moderate incontinence and my mobility is limited because of it. I've often tried to reach the bathroom and haven't been able to in time. My care givers have told me I need to wear diapers. Of course I was embarrassed, ashamed and humiliated at first. Then one of the care givers told me she was going to put a "brief" on me. I thought she was going to go into the dresser and grab a pair of the fruit of the loom underwear I'd used previously. When she came back with a diaper I asked her what she was doing, she told said "we aren't supposed to call them diapers"

I said that is STUPID! All these people that say don't call diapers what they actually are - diapers, you just add salt to the wound. We want straight talk. We are already dealing with health conditions, we don't need to be talked to like we are stupid. We know a diaper is a diaper and we appreciate not being talked down to like we are fools. I know your intentions are good but PLEASE just no BS. You'll find people appreciate straight talk - call it what it is. For all the people that say call them "underwear or briefs" think someday that you too may be back in diapers. Will it help you when someone comes in and says let's change your brief when you already know they are changing your diaper? Give us some credit to add insult to injury.
I know of several people now in my same position and they call diapers, diapers as well.

STP Mar 2015
JG, CW thank you for your reply. When I started working with her, she wore regular underwear and disposal pad, but that's time she was getting frustrated herself about chenging pads, so I introduced her pullups... Seems to me when she needs new Pullup, she said "l need a diapers". It has been working well, but last couple of month she strip herself... After assist her in bed. yes her cognitive is falling....thanks again try my best.

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cwillie Mar 2015
Yes I agree, if it's just dribbling she may only need the pads, they are much less expensive than pull ups and come in many different absorbencies and lengths. It is good that she drinks enough, that is so often a problem, but it may help to taper back amounts in the evening.

jeannegibbs Mar 2015
I assume that you don't call them diapers to her. Diapers are for babies in her mind.

Does she have cognitive problems? If you can reason with her can you explain how much nicer she'll feel if she is wearing her disposable panties that wick moisture away from her body in case she happens to dribble in her sleep? And that wicking the moisture away from her skin will help prevent sore skin?

Could you remind her that at one stage of her life she wore protective pads in her underwear to catch menstrual flow, and now she is at another stage where she needs protective pads for a different reason. For everything there is a season!

If she has dementia and cannot understand explanations or remember them from one night to the next, you may have to be firm in a very matter-of-fact way.

(If it is just "dribbling" during the night, maybe she could get by with the padded washable panties. Would those seem more normal to her?)

Do you know what her primary objection is? Comfort? Denial? Cost?

Let us know how you work this out. We learn from each other.

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