As a caregiver, what can I do about incontinence in late stage Alzheimer's?

As the disease progresses the patient becomes less and less aware of when they need to go to the bathroom. While in the middle stages this can probably be managed by taking the patient to the bathroom every couple of hours with only the occasional episode of incontinence, at this stage of the disease, more drastic measures need to be taken. Accordingly, let me introduce you and your patient to the wonderful world of adult disposable diapers, sold as Depends or similar charmingly named products.

Many patients will resist this idea at first, and will initially refuse to wear such garments, either at night or in the daytime. But as the experience of wetting themselves or soiling themselves becomes more frequent, and the clean-up process becomes more burdensome and unpleasant, most patients eventually accept the need to wear such garments. While this lightens the burden of the caregiver somewhat, there is still the huge task of keeping the patient clean and dry at all times.

If you have had some experience diapering babies, you may be somewhat prepared for this task. If not, it is just something that you will have to learn to do. When the physical cleaning must first be done, both men and women can become embarrassed at being cleaned up after removal of the protective undergarment.

This is especially difficult when the patient no longer recognizes the caregiver. Many a female patient has said, “You can’t do this to me, I am a married woman.” Many a male caregiver, who may have never diapered a baby, may find this task particularly unappealing.

The part of the body they once worshipped only for sexual congress now becomes simply a work area.

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