Tips For Dealing With Incontinence In Alzheimer's Patients
Alzheimers disease often goes hand-in-hand with incontinence
, and can make dealing with the problem even more challenging. If youre a caregiver for someone with Alzheimers, and youve noticed a recent pattern of bladder incontinence in the person youre caring for, here are some strategies for handling the problem in ways that will make everyones life easier yours included.
When you first notice incontinence in someone with Alzheimers, the first action you need to take is to make an appointment with the persons doctor. Urinary tract infections, post-stroke conditions, diabetes, and Parkinsons disease can all contribute mightily to the problem. Even if the person youre caring for is resistant to going to the doctor, its worth insisting on. If a medical cause is identified, it can be treated, which may result in fewer incontinence episodes and thats in everyones best interest.
In addition to medical problems, other factors can contribute to incontinence in people with Alzheimers. Sometimes, its as simple as the person having a hard time getting to the toilet. Put yourself in the shoes of the person youre caring for as much as you can, and consider the route to the bathroom from other places in their living space is there furniture which is hard to navigate around? Is there anything which the person could potentially trip on, including throw rugs? Is it a long distance, especially from the bedroom? Do what you can to make the route completely clear, including re-arranging furniture and removing optional decor items if necessary. If the bathroom is more than a few steps from the bedroom, its well worth investing in a portable commode to keep at the bedside for nighttime use.
People with Alzheimers sometimes have difficulty remembering where the bathroom is and identifying the toilet, which can lead to incontinence episodes and other elimination challenges. Again, it helps to put yourself in the shoes of the person youre caring for as much as you can, and consider what changes you can make in their home to reduce confusion. For starters, draw as much attention to the toilet as necessary. Sometimes, this is as easy as leaving the bathroom door open so the toilets in plain sight. If the bathroom is down a hall or otherwise not in the persons line of sight, it may by helpful to post simple directional signs. If leaving the door open isnt practical, post a picture of a toilet on the bathroom door.
People with Alzheimers sometimes have accidents because they cant identify the toilet once theyre in the bathroom. It can be very helpful to draw attention to the toilet by placing a brightly colored cover on the lid. In some cases, its a good idea to remove items from the bathroom or the home in general which might be mistaken for toilets, including wastebaskets, hampers, and large potted plants.
Its important to safeguard against accidents by choosing clothing and supplies for the person which will help make accidents easier for everyone to deal with. Clothing which is durably machine washable and very easy to pull on and off are sensible choices. And the benefit of using incontinence undergarments like pads and briefs cannot be stressed enough. If the persons incontinence is light, and theyre fairly able, pads may be an option, but often briefs are more practical. If they resist the idea, bring them a pair just to try, so they can see for themselves how comfortable these garments are. It may also be helpful to place a mattress protector under the persons bedding, to make cleaning up nighttime accidents much easier.
One of the most important aspects of successfully dealing with this problem in people with Alzheimers is how you communicate with each other. Do everything you can to let them retain their dignity, and respect their need for privacy when at all possible. And be aware that they may not verbally communicate their needs be aware of facial expressions, fidgeting, tugging at clothing, or other body language which means they need to use the toilet, or may have had an accident. When accidents happen, dont scold, talk down, or use childish euphamisms for elimination be straightforward, matter-of-fact, and most of all, kind.
by: Virginia Butters
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