At 78-years-old, Bob spent decades giving back to others. Through his time in the military or as a lifelong advocate for volunteering in the community, Bob has always been willing to help others. While volunteering one day, he suffered a devastating fall that resulted in a fractured hip and femur. In a single moment, Bob lost the independence he had fought so hard to maintain.

Until this unexpected injury, Bob was entirely self-sufficient and living on his own. With this fall, his needs changed overnight and he was unable to continue living independently. His daughter, Jolie, helped him move into an assisted-living facility. During this transition, Bob started to experience more issues related to incontinence because of his fall. Living on a fixed income, Bob quickly realized that the adult diapers he now needed as a part of his daily life would be a strain on his already tight budget.

“It is vital to have human dignity,” Bob said. “I don’t believe people realize how important that it is, not just to seniors, but to anyone who needs this kind of support.”

That is when Bob’s daughter, Jolie, found relief from this new financial burden while working with vulnerable families through her job: United Way Safety Net Impact Partner Texas Diaper Bank.

“I would purchase diapers and it was quite a hardship, I don’t make a lot,” Jolie said. “He was on a fixed income. Even with that and Social Security, with the facility costs and everything, it was a big hardship,” she added.

Like many adult children caring for their aging parents, Jolie already deals with countless unfamiliar challenges in order to support her father along with her other life responsibilities. With Texas Diaper Bank’s support, Jolie was able to source the adult diapers her father, Bob, needed at no cost to their family. This provided more than just financial relief, it gave them a little bit of peace of mind during a difficult time.

“I got into the habit of wearing the product because it gave me peace of mind,” Bob said. “I would often tell people that I ‘depend on Depends ‘, but now I know that I can depend on the Texas Diaper Bank,” he added.

This entire situation opened Jolie’s eyes to a challenge that thousands in the community face but one she had never considered. “When we speak about diapers, the first thing that popped into my head was kids,” she said. “I didn’t really consider older folks on fixed incomes who may or may not have family that can afford it.”

Like many, Jolie was unaware of how big of an issue adult incontinence is for seniors or how expensive it can be.

“Adult diapers are so very expensive,” Jolie said. “With groceries and everything else,… I am a degreed professional and it was hard for me. I can’t imagine folks that are in-between jobs or work shift-work. How do they help their parents?”

As a member of what she calls the “sandwich generation” – adults caring both for their own children and their aging parents – Jolie is experiencing a challenge that countless families in San Antonio face.

“It is becoming more and more prevalent,” Jolie says. “We are now in charge of helping our parents, the folks that have given their whole lives. Now they need to be helped,” she added.

Since getting support from Texas Diaper Bank, Jolie has become a passionate advocate for increasing awareness around senior incontinence and the needs of older adults. Through her work with seniors in the community, she recalls a heart-breaking conversation with one older woman.

“I had one lady come up to me and say, ‘Yeah, I use a towel because I can’t afford diapers'”, Jolie said. She says she got this woman in touch with the Texas Diaper Bank to get support.

United Way’s Safety Net investments help people meet essential needs and build stability. For Bob, access to incontinence supplies restored independence and dignity.

Speaking about her father and other veterans, Jolie feels strongly about why they need more support.

“These are folks that have served our country. These are folks that have served us in the community,” Jolie says. “And they are constantly getting doors shut on them.”

Bob’s story is a reminder that everyone deserves the opportunity to live with dignity and independence, regardless of age. Through Safety Net investments that meet essential needs, United Way and its partners strengthen stability, foster connection and build resilience.