Dad had early stage dementia and while he still manages to dress himself, he will not put on the adult diapers that he needs to manage incontinence. Are there men's briefs/boxers on the market that look like regular underwear but that manage urinary and bowel incontinence? Are there incontinence products that look like normal underwear?
in public is both embarrassing for them, and back breaking for you.
Repetition is key. Matter of fact manner helps too.
We are struggling with a similar problem. My Mom forgets that she leaks and has accidents, so as a result she sees no need to wear pads. She isn't completely out of it, so we are hoping that soon it will "click" that she really does need something - other things have clicked with enough repetition. Otherwise we will have to have a serious talk, and maybe replace her underwear with "absorbent underwear", and she wouldn't have to remember to use pads.
very embarrassing accidents. Then we went to flex fit, but finally even they weren't
enough and we went to heaviest coverage product which did look like a diaper. But
by then he didn't care as he was more worried about not soiling his clothes.
I called them absorbent underwear, and stressed how much he wanted to keep his
clothes clean and dry. I also got him velcro fastened shirts and pants that had faux
buttons and fly which looked like real thing. He still needs help dressing but feels more
independent and care givers appreciate having things made easier for them, as they
have to deal with his frequent incontinence.
www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=incontinence+underwear+men
These, for example, claim to look and feel like cotton underwear, and you can order a sample pack:
www.amazon.com/HASOCARE-Breathable-Incontinence-Underwear-Trial/dp/B072284ZTH
Also, definitely don't call them diapers in front of the person. That just upsets them and makes them more resistant. I think the idea of using a "diaper" must really wreak havoc with an adult person's self-esteem. ESPECIALLY men. Women become accustomed to wearing menstrual products like pads early in life, and also many women come to accept a little incontinence after childbirth. Men generally don't have to deal with "down there" issues till later in life.
Have him put on the Depend THEN put the boxers on over the Depend. That will look how he's used to looking.
My FIL WOULD go commando--he wore thong type underwear and that's all he owned. Was both bowel and bladder incontinent. Too many gross accidents in restaurants left behind for ME to clean up--I threw out every pair of thongs and replaced them with the thinnest brief I could find. DH would NOT discuss this issue with him, so I did. It was awful--so I have no profound things for you to tell you LO about needing this extra level of care. It was embarrassing and humiliating for both of us. The nurses in the hospital gave him no wiggle room , he HAD to wear briefs when in the hosp.
Looking back I should have literally forced my DH to step up. He was so skittish--anything the least bit "gross" and he'd be dry heaving. I didn't do him any favors by taking such good care of his dad--well, that's not true. I made it possible for him to have zero accountability in his dad's care.
So perhaps it may not be all about the look of them? There are some that look very close to underwear, but contingent on where your dad is in the dementia, there may be other factors to his thinking
Yes, mere words, of course. But words are thoughts and the brighter the side they focus on, the better.
Back to the actual point: Alium, you say your father has *early* stage dementia? So is there another cause for the double incontinence? Do his doctors not have anything helpful to offer?
"Briefs", "Depends" (other brand name), "undergarments". etc.
One thing we had to do was to remove all of Dad's regular underwear so he had no choice but to use the Depend type garment. I doubt at an older age that a fellow would go "commando" and not wear underwear at all.
One thing, these type of garments can become very warm to wear. My Dad use to complain big time even when he wore a Depends Guard pad for urinary issues. Being a woman, I couldn't feel sorry for him, welcome to my world.
Without being patronizing to him, focus on the fact that he can dress himself and what a big help that is to you.