Read the stories of our Carers

The Story of Angela

THE STORY OF ANGELA
I have been a nurse in a nursing home for almost 20 years, and my goal is to take care of patients both physically and psychologically.

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What I love about my job is that I know I can help out at a time when people are more fragile and during which families also need practical and psychological support.

Over the years I have acquired an increasing awareness and I have learned that the first step is to observe and listen to patients: because everyone has different needs depending on his/her age and the seriousness of the problem he/she is facing.

I try to help them accept and deal with a change of lifestyle: because there is never a single solution to incontinence, but many small actions which, if implemented on a daily basis, can lead to concrete improvements.

Starting from the diet, often underestimated, but also paying great attention to a correct intimate hygiene, because it is essential to prevent redness and bad smells forming, caused by dampness and the presence of germs and bacteria. For this reason too, it is essential to dry the skin perfectly before wearing (or ensuring somebody wears) incontinence aids.

Another crucial aspect is the choice of the incontinence aid best suited to the specific needs of those I have before me: the condition of the person, the family situation and his/her social and house habits are all variables to be taken into consideration in order to identify the best solution. For example, I prefer to avoid using All-in-One Diapers if my patient is able to go, even if accompanied, to the bathroom. Rather, I make sure that the route is short and that there are no obstacles, so that it can be reached more easily, and I use incontinence products which can be put on in the bathroom, such as Pull-ups or Light Pads. This little trick helps, because it allows a greater independence to the person.

The Story of Thabi

THE STORY OF THABI
The use of a good diaper or pad is only the starting point for managing incontinence but there are also some precautions that can prevent irritation and redness

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In my experience I have dealt with people of all ages, with more or less serious incontinence problems: for everyone, however, the same basic rules are valid.

These suggestions are often underestimated by those who are independent and suffer from mild incontinence, because they do not perceive the importance of proper intimate hygiene, even when they are not wearing a diaper.

It is not just a matter of washing more often, but of changing habits: paradoxically, excess hygiene can be harmful, because we risk weakening the outermost layer of the skin, which serves to protect it.

Bear in mind that the areas in contact with urine are likely to get irritated more easily, and should therefore be treated in a specific way: washing each time the pad is changed, choosing products with neutral PH (sometimes, in an attempt to "cover" smells, my patients use perfumed detergents, which risk making the situation worse), and perfectly drying the area before wearing a new item.

As a further precaution, I always use moisturising creams or antiseptic creams and suggest that the pad/diaper should be changed often and, in any case, whenever it is wet

The Story of Lesedi

THE STORY OF LESEDI
The topic of incontinence is often a taboo: but talking about it is the only way to overcome obstacles and to return to daily life

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Both for cultural and psychological reasons, the admission of suffering from this disorder is really complicated, as sometimes the patient denies or minimises the symptoms and does not talk about it with his/her doctor or with family members.

I often hear people tell me, "How strange, it had never happened to me before!", or even to see children ashamed of their parents. When it happens, I always try to explain that there is nothing strange or shameful about incontinence, which can happen regardless of age and gender and that awareness is the first step towards learning to live with it as serenely as possible. And this applies both to sufferers and to those who need to assist a relative or patient.

It is understandable that there is a certain reluctance to talk about this subject, especially with the partner, but often the greatest discomfort is caused precisely by this silence rather than by incontinence itself.

I have known patients who, in order not to admit to being incontinent, have gradually given up their habits, stopped seeing friends or practicing sports and who have even shown episodes of anxiety or depression linked to this condition, one which was inadmissible for them.

With experience I have learned that taking on an attitude of understanding rather than of reproach, both towards oneself and towards the person being cared for, and talking about it with the family doctor (and with the people we love), are necessary steps to better deal with these situations. Because incontinence is a disorder which can be treated, cured, and which can be lived with: nowadays, incontinence products are discreet, comfortable and allow us to live with less sacrifice and without embarrassment.