As we age, our bodies endure a lot, and sometimes that means an older adult may experience urinary incontinence. It’s a common challenge for many older adults getting hospice care in Burbank, Glendale, or Pasadena. A 2014 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mentions that 51% of people over the age of 65 and living at home have bladder or bowel incontinence. Those figures increase further for patients in hospice and assisted living facilities.
The nursing team providing care for Glendale, Burbank, or Pasadena hospice patients tells us that urinary incontinence refers to the loss of bladder control. This is usually a common and often embarrassing problem. The harshness of this condition ranges from leaking urine every now and then when you cough or sneeze to having the impulse to urinate that’s so unforeseen and strong you don’t get to a toilet in time.
Although urinary incontinence usually happens as people get older, it isn’t an unavoidable result of aging. If urinary incontinence disturbs your daily activities, don’t be reluctant to see your doctor or tell the staff providing hospice care. For many people, simple changes in lifestyle and diet or even medical care can treat symptoms of urinary incontinence.
Some Burbank, Pasadena, or Glendale hospice patients experience small leaks of urine. On the other hand, others may lose small to moderate quantities of urine more frequently.
Types of urinary incontinence include:
Urinary incontinence can happen because of everyday habits, underlying medical conditions, or physical issues. Your doctor should give you a thorough evaluation to determine the causes of your incontinence.
Some drinks, foods, and medications behave as diuretics — stimulating your bladder and boosting your urine volume. They include:
Additionally, urinary incontinence may be caused by an easily treatable medical condition, such as:
Again, urinary incontinence can be an ongoing condition caused by underlying physical issues or changes, including:
Although urinary continence is common, in many situations, it is treatable. Options for caring for urinary incontinence include surgery, medication, behavioral therapy, and diet modifications.
For individuals who carry on suffering from urinary incontinence, it is crucial to plan ahead to avoid any accidents and complications.
Planning bathroom visits before a person feel the urge to urinate can be very helpful for individuals with neurological disorders or mobility issues. It can be good to get used to double voiding during these visits. When it comes to double voiding, a person urinates, waits a few minutes, and then attempts to urinate again, encouraging the person to drain the bladder completely.
When an accident does happen, always ensure to gently clean the body with mild soap and pat the skin dry to prevent any skin rashes.
When managing urinary incontinence in older adults, like those in Burbank hospice, you should have the right supplies. Some helpful products include:
Incontinence is prevalent in people going through a serious illness. Palliative and or hospice care can help provide extra care and support while connecting the person with local resources and hospice provides incontinence products, depending on the patient’s condition. If you need more information on urinary incontinence in older adults, do not hesitate to contact Faith & Hope Hospice and Palliative Care.