CAREGIVING may be a noble occupation but it’s far from glamorous, especially when you have to deal with aspects of caring that not many people talk about.
One of the things that people generally don’t want to discuss is how to deal with an adult who needs to wear diapers.
To begin with, many adults who come to that stage in their lives balk at the thought of having to use it. Having to wear adult diapers is one thing. Having to accept this fact is quite another. It signifies so many things, mainly the perceived loss of dignity and the actual loss of some bodily function.
For some of us with physically and/or mentally challenged children who are now adults, putting them in diapers is a matter of course that’s inevitable. It’s the same for those who are bedridden.
The easy availability of adult diapers today have given many people independence, freedom of movement and less of those “oops” moments that come with incontinence. It makes it much easier to take our loved ones out for meals and excursions without struggling and spending a lot of time in public toilets waiting for that “oops” moment to happen — oversoaked diapers, imminent and actual leaks.
As time goes by and designs of these diapers have improved, wearing adult diapers has become easier. Some people even do it with style. They believe that if they don’t make a big deal out of it, others won’t either.
Manufacturers of adult diapers, however, should continue to improve on the sticky tapes that usually don’t fasten very well after you’ve opened it. Of course there are those pull-up pants type, but that’s not suitable for everyone.
For people who are quite mobile and independent, wearing adult diapers, especially the pull-up type, is just like wearing extra-thick underwear. However, you’d need to wear bigger pants to accommodate it or your pants would bulge awkwardly.
For those who can’t complain to you, you’d have to watch out for signs of diaper rash and urinary tract infection (UTI), which you can usually tell by the strong smell. You’d also need to be on the lookout for bloody or cloudy urine, the frequent urge to urinate, pain or burning during urination and low-grade fever. You have to take them to the doctor right away to avoid unnecessary complications.
To prevent these problems, you have to start with cleanliness and hygiene. You need to clean them up with water — lots of it. Don’t dry wipe with toilet paper or tissues, and when using water don’t use soap. Plain water is good enough. Wet wipes are good for emergencies but not for routine cleaning. You should be thorough about cleaning this area because even a bit of faecal matter can cause skin irritation and rashes.
Once you’ve rinsed and dried your loved one, don’t put on the diapers immediately. Allow the skin to “breathe”. Diapers, even clean ones, are like a sponge. They’ll absorb everything and can be a breeding ground for bacteria that leads to infection.
You’d also need to keep the genital area clean, especially if he’s not circumcised (that part is a natural breeding ground for bacteria). You may also have to trim his pubic hair for extra measure. Keeping that area dry before putting on the diaper is very important.
If you know your loved one’s routine, it’d be good to let them be diaper-free for a few hours a day or a few minutes several times a day. The last thing you want are bedsores.
You’d also want to watch what your loved one drinks. Water is always the best fluid to drink. If they’re drinking juices, just remember that these are usually sweet and may trigger a UTI infection.
Some people, however, especially the elderly, are not too keen to drink. It has been said that they either don’t feel thirsty or they forget to drink. If that is the case, then you’d have to monitor that too. Encourage them to drink enough fluids. Toileting should also be put on schedule.
When I first had to do this as part of toilet training for my challenged son, I had time charts for all of this. Add clocks and timer bells too. It wasn’t just my son that needed to be timed and trained. All his caregivers had to learn the routine too.
It has been more than two decades and he’s still in diapers. We’ve spent a small fortune on disposable diapers. We’ve tried re-usable cloth diapers but it gets tricky when he shifts from his wheelchair to bum-shuffling on the floor as he moves around.
Some people have told me to try not to use disposable diapers, saying that it’s environmentally unfriendly and takes something like 500 years to decompose. To my defence, I’d also say that war and pollution are also threats to the planet. But let’s keep that argument for another day on a different platform.
Putri Juneita Johari volunteers for the Special Children Society of Ampang. You can reach her at juneitajohari@yahoo.com
The article above is brought to you by AmMetLife Insurance Berhad.