Dealing with Elderly Incontinence
Caregiver education, Elderly Caregiver
Learn to manage incontinence
Incontinence, or loss of bladder control, is a common condition that many caregivers must deal with. It is actually a symptom, not a disease in itself, caused by a wide range of conditions and disorders, including pelvic surgery injuries, certain diseases, infection and degenerative changes associated with aging. Some medications may also cause incontinence.
People with incontinence often experience emotional as well as physical discomfort. There is much that can be done to treat and manage the condition. One of the first steps you should take is to talk a doctor, who can help devise a treatment plan. Here are some additional tips to help you deal with the common challenges associated with incontinence:
Elderly Urinary Incontinence Tips
If you are a home caregiver, make it easy to find the bathroom. Use night lights in the bedroom and hallways, or keep the bathroom light on overnight. Brightly colored arrows or glow-in-the-dark tape on the walls to point the way can also help lessen confusion in the dark.
Many people have accidents because they can’t reach the bathroom in time. Purchase commodes, which is a seat with a opening at the bottom, for toilet use. Consider encouraging the use of a cane or walker to help increase mobility. Create a safe and easy path to the bathroom. Rearrange furniture, and remove clutter and other obstacles such as unsafe area rugs. Also, stairs may make it harder to reach the bathroom in time.
Straining to get in or out of a chair or bed may put added pressure on the bladder and cause accidents. Chairs with sturdy arms on the sides help provide leverage to get in and out easier. Avoid rocking chairs if the person has difficulty getting out of them. Consider an automatic handicapped lift chair that helps one sit and stand with minimal effort.
Allow adequate time and privacy in the bathroom to completely empty the bladder. Remove wet clothing immediately after an accident and rinse as soon as possible to cut down on odor. Can’t rinse right away? Store in an airtight container or plastic bag with a room deodorizer placed inside. Create a schedule of regular trips to the bathroom. Start by going every two hours, and slowly increase the intervals over several weeks.
If accidents are happening near the toilet, is it because the person finds it difficult to sit down on the toilet? A raised toilet seat elevates the toilet height to a more comfortable level. Also, think about adding wall handrails to make things even easier.
If you feel awkward or unqualified to do these tasks, you can always hire a caregiver for the job.
Tags: Elderly Incontinence, Urinary Incontinence
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