If your elderly loved one develops dementia, they might be different from the person you knew. Now, more than ever, they need your love, care and understanding, especially if they are experiencing dementia and urinary .
Learn about the condition and how manage dementia incontinence to make your loved one as comfortable as possible.
Dementia incontinence: A common side-effect
As dementia progresses it can have an increased effect on a person’s cognitive ability and their ability to care for themselves. Dementia doesn’t always lead to continence issues, but it is common, as people with dementia are three to four times more likely to have urinary 1.
Alzheimer’s disease also comes with a heightened risk of experiencing incontinence issues, and there are several other forms of dementia can also increase the risk.
What causes incontinence in people with dementia?
Dementia affect’s a person’s cognitive function and in its later stages this can have a major impact on a person’s ability to remember things or react to their needs. They may no longer be able to recognise the urge to urinate or have a bowel movement. This can lead to both urinary and fecal .
Older people tend to be at a greater risk of urinary health conditions due to a variety of reasons, such as struggling to manage personal hygiene, changes to the body and hormones (such as menopause) or medical conditions (such as an enlarged prostate). These various increased risks all increase the likelihood of someone suffering from dementia and urinary incontinence.
Dealing with dementia and urinary incontinence
Below you can find some information about caring for someone who has dementia and incontinence. This will help you to keep your loved one clean and comfortable.
Dementia incontinence products
Someone with dementia and bladder control issues might not understand why they need to wear anything other than their regular clothing and underwear. Depending on your loved one’s condition, you might have to explain exactly why you’d like them to wear incontinence pads or pants. To help your loved one feel at ease, try to make the switch to using these products a part of their usual routine.
In addition to using protective products, it would also be helpful to protect beds, chairs, and other furniture using incontinence sheets. This will simplify your daily cleaning and help to keep your loved one’s environment fresh and clean. For more information, explore our TENA incontinence product range and our hygiene accessories.
How to make changing clothes easier
When a person becomes incontinent, they normally need to change their clothes more frequently. However, if they also suffer from dementia, it can be particularly challenging and they might need more assistance. To make things easier for both you and your loved one, make sure their clothing is easy to change. Clothes with zippers and Velcro are easier to remove and adjust than fiddly buttons and snaps. If you’re able to make the changing process easier, your loved one is likely to feel less anxious or embarrassed.
Diet change
You might find that changing your loved one’s diet could improve their general well-being. Certain food and drink can affect urinary health, adjusting diet accordingly can help reduce . A warning though: they might resist such changes, especially if, due to dementia, they’ve developed a dislike of, or preference for, particular foods.
To make sure they eat a balanced diet, it’s good to discuss any changes with their doctor or a dietician. It’s also important to make sure your loved one is staying hydrated, so try to keep an eye on their fluid intake to ensure it’s consistent. Make sure not to overconsume water or drinks however, as this can increase the chance of urine leakage or incontinence occurring.
Home adaptations
To further improve your loved one’s comfort, try installing a portable toilet chair/commode to the room(s) where they spend most of their time. This helps if a person has problems making it to the toilet in time, especially at night. This can also be helpful for people with mobility problems.
Medications for bladder control
Your doctor may prescribe medication that treats the bladder’s urge to urinate. Or one that changes how often the bladder tells the body that urination is about to occur. These medications generally reduce frequent urges to urinate when your loved one is unable to make it to a toilet fast enough.
These medications could have side effects like constipation and dry mouth. Make sure to get information about side effects so you can monitor for them.
Helping to get washed
Hygiene is important – particularly if your loved one is experiencing dementia ”. He or she might neglect to wash themselves and it could require more assistance and as well more patience from your side. Get more helpful hygiene tips here.
Dementia can take an immense toll both on the person experiencing it and on those caring for them. Providing support and caring can be a challenge, but with the right information you can lighten the load and keep your loved one clean and comfortable. For more information on living with , see our guides on urinary incontinence and how to use incontinence sheets to protect your bed and furniture from leaks.
Sources:
https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/collection/continence-dementia-and-care-that-preserves-dignity/
