We get it; you deserve to take a vacation and celebrate the holidays with family and friends, and this often involves a certain amount of travel, whether by car, plane or train.
Unplanned inconveniences, such as inclement weather, mechanical delays, and overbooking can be a hassle, but there’s an additional obstacle that roughly half of Americans aged 65 and older have to deal with while traveling: urinary incontinence (UI).
With that in mind, we want to share with our Community some useful tips to help you have the best time this Holidays!
When flying:
- Use disposable underwear with less absorbent material to avoid any inconveniences with TSA. Keep your more absorbent option handy for you to change once you've passed security checkpoints.
- Always reserve an aisle seat if possible. This is the most convenient option when it comes to waking up fellow passengers and asking them to move for each bathroom break.
- Limit liquid intake before and during air travel. Changes in cabin pressure and tight seat belts can put extra pressure on the bladder, especially if it’s full.
When Driving
- Map your route: identify freeway exit guides that list rest areas and plan regular stops for bathroom breaks.
- Watching what you eat and drink on the day of travel can also help avoid an overactive bladder or upset bowel
At your destination
- Be prepared with your “Plan B” bag. This includes a change of clothes, extra incontinence products, and a few plastic bags for containing soiled clothing and disposing of used products discretely.
- Learn how to ask, “Where is the restroom?” This is vitally important when traveling to foreign countries. Here are a few to get you started:
French: Où sont les toilettes s’il vous plaît?
Spanish: Perdóneme ¿Dónde está el baño?
German: Wo ist die Toilette, bitte?
Italian: Dov’è la toilette?
Arabic: Ayna Al Hammam?
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