My elderly mom is bedridden and incontinent. How do I keep her skin clean and healthy?
Bedridden individuals who are also incontinent have a high risk of developing pressure sores and diaper rashes, so it’s very important to maintain personal hygiene. As a caregiver, there are several things you can do to ensure that your mother’s skin stays dry, yet moisturized, and healthy:
- Provide your mom with quality adult diapers with fast wicking capabilities. The Tranquility All-Through-the-Night briefs feature a highly absorbent core that pulls liquid away from the skin, keeping it dry and free of harmful urine deposits. For extra protection, use a booster pad, which will add to the capacity limit of the diaper.
- Change her adult brief frequently to avoid diaper rashes. When your skin is exposed to urine and fecal matter, it can lead to skin breakdown and painful sores. It’d be ideal to change the diaper as soon as it gets heavily soiled. If possible, check the diaper every two or so hours to make sure it’s clean.
- Keep the skin moisturized with a barrier ointment. We recommend the Aloe Vest Protective Ointment because it contains protein-rich ingredients that works to form a protective layer on the skin, protecting it from damp diapers. This skin barrier is also non-greasy, non-smelly and doesn’t stain clothing.
- Keep the skin clean with a no-rinse cleanser – the perfect, hassle-free option for people who are bedridden. Our customers love the Tena Wash Cream because it’s very gentle on the skin, which is a must for elderly loved ones. This cleanser is very easy to wipe on and off, and leaves the skin feeling soft and smelling fresh.
- Reposition your loved one often. When you’re lying down all day and night, it’s difficult to get your blood flow circulating and nutrients flowing throughout your body. This can lead to painful pressure sores and ulcers. That’s why it’s very important that you help reposition your mom every two hours. You could invest in special foam wedges to help elevate the legs and increase blood circulation.
Proper skin care is an essential part of managing urinary incontinence. This responsibility becomes even more critical when the person you’re caring for is bedridden. Hopefully you’ll find these tips useful in helping your mom stay clean and fresh at all times.
