Treating Incontinence For Seniors

Incontinence is a common problem in seniors and can cause stress if it’s not controlled or treated. People who have incontinence must plan for it. They should always be prepared with supplies and ready to go when they need them.

These symptoms are often hidden from view because they can’t be talked about or people think it’s embarrassing. Being incontinent is something you should not tolerate.

It is possible to control or stop incontinence in older adults. This article will provide information about the causes of incontinence in seniors and how to treat it.

What is Incontinence?

Incontinence can be caused by issues with the muscles or nerves that control the bladder and bowels. Incontinence is a condition that results from accidental bowel or urinary leakage.

Incontinence can be caused by many factors. Some of which include:

• Being a female, especially after childbirth or menopause.
• Prostate problems in males
• Smoking
• A structural birth defect in the urinary tract.
• Certain health issues, such as obesity, diabetes, or constipation, can be a problem.
• Being older

What Kinds of Incontinence Do Seniors Experience?

Seniors are most likely to experience urinary incontinence. More than 25 million seniors experience bladder leakage each day, according to the National Association for Continence. WebMD estimates that this is about half of senior women and 25% for senior men.

These are the common types of incontinence:

• Functional incontinence. This is a condition that affects older adults who have normal bladder control. This could be due to arthritis, or other conditions that make it difficult to get to the toilet on time.
• Overflowing incontinence. This is when tiny amounts of urine leak from a full bladder. An enlarged prostate in men can cause a blockage of the urethra and prevent the bladder from emptying completely. This can be caused by other conductions such as diabetes or spinal cord injuries.
• Stress incontinence. This is when the bladder pressure causes urine to leak. The leak can be triggered by coughing, laughing, lifting, or sneezing. This is a common problem in middle-aged and younger women. Sometimes, it can also be an aftereffect of childbirth. It can also occur during menopause.
• Urge Incontinence. This is when an unexpected need to urinate arises and the person can’t hold it long enough to go to the toilet. This can happen to seniors with multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, and stroke.

What Causes Seniors to Get Incontinence?

Incontinence does not happen only with old age. Incontinence can occur in any age group. Senior incontinence can be caused by:

• Diseases. Some conditions, such as arthritis, can make it hard to access the bathroom on time.
• Infections. Symptoms of mild incontinence include mild irritation, urinary tract infections, or vaginal infection.
• Medication. Medications for other conditions may cause temporary bladder control issues.
• Nerve damage. People can lose control of their bladders due to multiple sclerosis, diabetes or Parkinson’s.
• Prolapse of the pelvic organ. When pelvic organs such as the bladder or rectum shift, it can cause problems for the bladder and urethra. This could cause urine leakage.
• Prostate problems. Men can have an enlarged prostate gland. This could be due to prostatitis (a painful inflammation of prostate glands) or benign prostate hyperplasia (an age-related enlarging.

Incontinence may occur when the pelvic muscles become too weak or active. Seniors may not be able to control their urine and bowel movements if they are too weak. They may feel the need to use the bathroom more often if they are too active. This can lead to leakage.

How can incontinence be prevented and treated?

You can prevent or treat incontinence by taking several steps. Here are some ways that incontinence can be addressed.

Training and Exercises

Pelvic muscles exercises – Also known as Kegel exercises. These can help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles support your bladder and can hold the urine back, preventing leakage.
Timed Urination – Planning when you will urinate can help to control your bladder. A body can be more flexible by planning when it will go to the bathroom. You can eventually extend the time between bathroom visits.
Urgency suppression – You can control strong urges to urinate. To do this, you can take a few deep breaths, relax, hold still, or flex your pelvic floor muscles. These can be done until you are able to go to the bathroom.

Lifestyle and Behavioral Changes

You can make a variety of changes to improve your control.

• Avoid lifting heavy objects
• Avoid alcohol before bed
• Lose weight
• Avoid constipation
• Stop smoking and drinking alcohol
• Use bladder control products
• Treatments for Incontinence

Medical Treatment

These treatments may be helpful:

Biofeedback – This makes you more aware of the signals coming from your body. Biofeedback can help you regain control of your bladder and urethra muscles.
Bulking agents – can be used to close the bladder. The doctor injects a gel or paste that thickens around the urethra. The procedure may need to be repeated.
Electric nerve stimulation – A mild electric current can send a mild current to the bladder’s nerves to stimulate them and help control your urination.
Medical devices – These instruments include catheters to drain your bladder and urethral inserts that prevent leakage. A vaginal pessary ring to maintain pressure may also be used to prevent leakage.
Medications – Bladder problems can sometimes be treated with liquids, pills or patches. There are potential risks so make sure to consult your doctor before you take any medication.
Surgery – Changing the position or clearing a blockage caused by an enlarged prostate can sometimes cure or improve incontinence.
Vaginal estrogen cream – This low-dose hormone can be applied to the vaginal wall tissue and may relieve stress and urge incontinence.

Other Concerns

Incontinence issues are common in seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease. It could be due to forgetting to use the toilet, not being capable of finding the toilet, or not knowing they need to urinate.

Here are some things you can do to help people with Alzheimer’s:

Avoid giving them caffeine-rich beverages like coffee, sodas, and tea. This can increase their urination. However, make sure they get enough water. This is important for their overall health and hydration.
Make sure to keep walkways clean and bathrooms clear. Keep a light on at ALL times.
Provide regular bathroom breaks.
Use underwear that is easy to put on and take off. You can also use absorbent underwear or briefs for trips away.

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