How do I start a conversation with a parent if he or she is experiencing
incontinence?Remember that it’s normal to feel uncomfortable discussing something as private as incontinence with someone who used to change your diapers. There are conversations between relatives—especially between parent and child—that many of us would rather avoid. Urinary incontinence is a challenging exchange, but here are some tips to get it started:

•Avoid denying the problem; don’t pretend it’s not happening.
•Take an empathetic approach. If the person becomes defensive, remember that she may feel embarrassed – your parent is not angry with you, more likely she is angry about the problem.
•Take a team approach and make it clear that you want to work together to find a solution; it may help to bring your parent some educational information that can help reinforce that he isn’t the only person with these symptoms and help you begin the conversation.
•Establish an open honest dialogue, encouraging your parent to talk about severity, how long he has had the symptoms, changes over time, and impact on daily activities
•Talk about incontinence products that can help your loved one continue to lead a normal, healthy life

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