ADP DT - Life Over 50: Tips for Living with Adult Incontinence

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ADP SP - Life Over 50: Tips for Living with Adult Incontinence

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# Life Over 50: Tips for Living with Adult Incontinence

Poise yourself for positivity with urinary incontinence tips that help you get the most out of life, regardless of bladder leaks.

To live your life to the fullest and be truly fearless after 50, it’s essential for you to rise up against your fear of bladder leaks and say, “It’s no big deal!” Here are five ways you can poise yourself for positivity so you can feel fearless and fabulous, regardless of your overactive bladder:

## Adult Incontinence Tips

### 1. Visualize How You Are Not Alone 
Picture this: More than 50% of older Americans live with urinary incontinence. If you're feeling isolated or invisible (another big issue for many people over 50, especially women), keep this in mind. You are not alone! You may be new to the symptoms of incontinence as an older adult or you may have experienced them previously as a result of pregnancy and childbirth that caused damage to the pelvic floor muscles. Or maybe from a previous urinary tract infection (UTI), or from another underlying condition like diabetes, menopause or Parkinson's disease. Either way, it's important to [understand the condition,](/en-us/incontinence-advice-support/what-is-incontinence) the types of urinary incontinence in women, the symptoms and treatment options so that you can make the proper lifestyle changes and gain more control of urine leaks and your life. 

Here are some urinary incontinence guides that may help you identify the type of incontinence you have and how to best manage your sensitive bladder: 

- [Stress Incontinence](/en-us/incontinence-advice-support/stress-incontinence-symptoms-causes-and-treatment)
- [Urge Incontinence](/en-us/incontinence-advice-support/urge-incontinence-symptoms-causes-and-treatment)
- [Mixed Incontinence](/en-us/incontinence-advice-support/what-is-mixed-incontinence)
- [Overflow Incontinence](/en-us/incontinence-advice-support/overflow-incontinence-symptoms-causes-and-treatment)

### 2. Share How You Feel 
Most women don't want to talk about their overactive bladder, even with their doctors, because they're too embarrassed. By simply sharing your thoughts—especially the ones that make you the most uncomfortable—with other people who might be going through a similar adult incontinence experience, it can ease your mind. If you aren’t ready to discuss it with your family or loved ones, consider joining an online forum with conversations that are specifically geared to those over 50. If you have a loved one or caregiver helping you manage your bladder control, have them read this guide: [10 Tips for Incontinence Care.](/en-us/incontinence-advice-support/tips-for-caregivers)

### 3. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
How do you know incontinence will hold you back or limit what you're capable of doing if you don't get out there and try? You can always find reasons why you shouldn't do something. Instead, focus on all the reasons you should. It's a mind shift you can apply to all aspects of life. Can you do this? Yes, you can! Will you? That just depends on your attitude!

For example, take this [personal story of a woman experiencing incontinence symptoms.](/en-us/incontinence-advice-support/first-day-wearing-incontinence-underwear) She put off going to social events and family gatherings because of her bladder control problems. The fear of having the sudden urge to urinate when out in public and not making it to the restroom in time kept her from spending time with loved ones—until she took charge of her life and found the right protection. 

You can take control of your life too by following a bladder-friendly diet, making a schedule to "train your bladder" to hold urine longer, doing exercises to strengthen your bladder muscles (like pelvic floor exercises or kegels), and wearing the right protection to help manage the involuntary loss of urine, bladder leaks and odors. 

You'll be back to doing the things you love with confidence and poise in no time.

### 4. Get the Right Incontinence Protection
Before you jump out of your comfort zone, make sure you are prepared and protected properly with the right absorbent products. Only about half of women who experience bladder leaks use the right product specifically designed for incontinence. Not sure where to start? Here are some questions and guidance to help you choose the right incontinence protection for you:

__Menstrual pads vs. Incontinence pads: Does it matter?__

The answer is absolutely, yes, it matters. Incontinence pads are designed to manage urine leakage and odors in a way that menstrual pads can't. If you're walking down the feminine care or incontinence care aisle and you’re confused "because they all look the same," know there is a difference. Learn the [difference between menstrual pads and incontinence pads.](/en-us/incontinence-advice-support/incontinence-pads-vs-menstrual-pads)

__What should I consider when comparing adult incontinence products?__

There are several factors you should consider when shopping for the right bladder leakage protection: fit, style, absorbency, odor control and skin sensitivity. The three main types of incontinence protection that can help address those factors are liners, pads and protective underwear (also known as incontinence underwear or adult diapers). Use this guide to help you [compare the different types of incontinence products](/en-us/incontinence-advice-support/comparing-and-using-incontinence-products) based on your unique incontinence needs. 

Try Always Discreet liners, pads and underwear protection—they are a line of incontinence products based on your individual needs—with incredible urine leakage protection and odor control.

### 5. Embrace Your Age 
Make this your personal mantra: Don't fight your age. Embrace it with poise, whatever it is. Again, this doesn't mean you should give up and give in. It is a very powerful concept of letting go of your younger self and embracing and loving your older self. Treat yourself with kindness, respect, and take care of you as you would your children, your family and your friends.

This is your time. Will it be all it can be? That just depends on your attitude! With the right perspective (and a little help from some great adult incontinence products) you can make it everything you want it to be.


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