Incontinence stops a lot of people travelling, and it does not need to. The planning takes twenty minutes and it is the same each time.
What to carry
- Enough products for the journey plus at least two extra. Delays happen.
- Two or three underpads, for the seat, the hotel bed or an unexpected change on a flat surface.
- Wipes or bath towels, and a small towel.
- Barrier cream if it is part of the routine.
- Scented nappy sacks or ordinary bin liners, for used products where there is no bin.
- A full change of clothes in the hand luggage, not the checked bag.
- Hand sanitiser and disposable gloves if a caregiver is travelling too.
Keep all of it in one dedicated bag rather than spread through the luggage. When you need it, you will need it quickly.
Flying
- Adult diapers and underpads go in hand luggage without a problem. Volume is not restricted the way liquids are.
- Creams and liquids follow the normal hundred millilitre rule for cabin bags.
- Book an aisle seat near the toilet. Ask at the check in desk if the seat map looks unhelpful.
- Change immediately before boarding, not an hour earlier.
- Aircraft toilets are small. For anyone who needs help, ask the crew about the accessible toilet. On many aircraft there is one, and cabin crew are used to the request.
- If assistance is needed at the airport, book wheelchair support when you buy the ticket. It is free and it removes most of the stress.
Trains
Indian long distance trains are actually easier than flights for this. Book a lower berth, which you can request for a senior citizen or on medical grounds. Put an underpad on the berth. Keep the bag under the head end rather than in the overhead rack. Use the toilet when the train stops at a station, since it is far steadier then.
Long car journeys
Put an underpad on the seat before anyone sits down. Plan a stop every two hours whether or not anyone asks for one. Keep the change bag in the cabin, not the boot. A car with the doors open, parked somewhere quiet, is a perfectly workable place for a change if the alternative is a bad highway toilet.
Weddings, temples and long events
Use a higher capacity product than usual, scout where the accessible toilet is on arrival, and give the person a discreet signal they can use when they want to step away. Knowing there is a plan is what lets someone relax and stay for the whole evening.
Hotels
Ask for a room near the lift. Put an underpad on the bed before the first night. Carry your own bin liners, because hotel bathroom bins are small and often uncovered. If you are staying several days, ask housekeeping for an extra bin liner supply rather than explaining it daily.
The point of all this
Nobody plans a trip so they can manage continence care well. They plan it to see a grandchild or to be at a wedding. Getting this part sorted quietly in the background is what keeps the trip about the reason for going.
General advice from our team. Anything medical, including new pain or bleeding, needs a doctor rather than a website.