Sponsored content by NorthShore Care Supply
We often take a good night’s sleep for granted, until it’s no longer possible. And caring for someone with nighttime incontinence is something that can make a good night’s sleep seem elusive.
Leaks, wet sheets, or wet clothes can disturb the sleep of aging adults and their caregivers, too.
To get both of you closer to a full, peaceful night’s sleep, we wanted to share our top 6 tips and tricks to managing nighttime incontinence.
6 Tips to Manage Incontinence at Night
1. Get the best absorbent underwear for the situation (free!)
The first step toward getting a good night’s sleep is finding absorbent underwear that has the right level of absorbency and fit. That makes all the difference between keeping your older adult dry through the night and experiencing leaks.
And did you know that you can find the right absorbent underwear with the right fit for your older adult for FREE?
Certain companies offer free samples of incontinence products, making it easy to find the one that works best for your older adult. Taking advantage of these samples saves money and improves leak protection and comfort.
2. Go beyond what you see in the store
If store-bought products aren’t doing the trick, there are other options. You can often find stronger, more absorbent products online.
For example, the MegaMax™ briefs by NorthShore are one of the most absorbent on the market. They’re designed to provide 12-hour overnight protection and can be a game-changer for seniors and caregivers.
3. Boost absorbing power and reduce leaks
To increase the power of absorbent briefs, add booster pads inside for extra coverage.
And in addition to using a waterproof mattress protector under the sheets, layer either washable or disposable waterproof bed pads on the bed at night to avoid middle-of-the-night bedding changes.
Making sure the absorbent underwear stays in place is another way to reduce leaks.
If your older adult tries to take off their absorbent underwear, moves around a lot at night, or is a side sleeper, consider breathable, waterproof diaper covers for an extra layer of protection.
4. Be prepared for leaks and bedding changes
Just in case your older adult’s clothes and bedding get wet overnight, preparing ahead of time helps you clean up the mess quickly and get back to sleep sooner.
Make a nighttime incontinence kit by gathering all the incontinence products that you’ll need: absorbent briefs, protective clothing, wipes, extra bed pads, extra sheets, change of clothes, skin care products, and trash bags for disposable products.
Get your kit ready and place it near their bed so you don’t have to hunt for anything in the wee hours of the morning.
5. Consider a bedwetting alarm
A bedwetting alarm can be helpful because it wakes seniors to get up to use the toilet before an accident occurs.
The alarm contains a moisture-detecting sensor that vibrates or emits a sound when moisture is detected.
6. Remove bathroom obstacles
If your older adult has Alzheimer’s or dementia, they may forget where the toilet is.
Make it easy to find by keeping the bathroom door open, leaving the bathroom light on, or placing nightlights along the way.
Adding a light-up toilet seat or creating a path leading to the bathroom with colored duct tape may also help them get to the toilet quickly.
Next Steps: Get 7 tips for managing dementia and incontinence
Tired of nighttime changes? Our exclusive NorthShoreâ„¢ brand of adult incontinence supplies provides a stronger alternative to store brands with extra absorbency and coverage, along with expert advice available 7 days a week. Free samples available upon request. Try NorthShoreâ„¢, the brand caregivers trust! For more caregiving tips, see our caregiver content section.
In business since 2002, NorthShore’s mission is to improve the quality of life of those dealing with incontinence via caring, individualized service and discreet delivery of unique, life-changing products.
This article is sponsored by NorthShoreâ„¢. For more information, see How We Make Money.
About the Author
Connie is the founder of DailyCaring.com and was a hands-on caregiver for her grandmother for 20 years. (Grandma made it to 101 years old!) She knows how challenging, overwhelming, and all-consuming caring for an older adult can be. She also understands the importance of support, especially in the form of practical solutions, valuable resources, and self-care tips.
Thought Id let you know what my daughter has done so that her dad recognises the Toilet door, eg: she has printed off coloured pictures of a man using the toilet & the same on the Bathroom door for when he showers. Which makes life easier for Carers.
Excellent suggestions! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for that tip! 🙂