Seniors and Bladder Incontinence

Seniors and Bladder Incontinence – bladder incontinence is a highly prevalent disease that not only affects a senior’s health, but impacts their daily lives emotionally, socially, and economically. With a rapidly growing senior population, more people will experience incontinence – however, it is not an inevitable part of aging.

What happens with Bladder Incontinence:

The body stores urine in the bladder, a hollow organ much like a balloon. During urination, muscles in the bladder tighten to move urine into a tube called the urethra, while the muscles around the urethra relax and let the urine pass out of the body. When the muscles in and around the bladder don’t work properly, urine can leak. Incontinence can occur for short periods of time due to urinary tract infections, constipation, or as a side effect of a medication.

When bladder leaking urine lasts longer, it may be due to:

•  Urge Incontinence: The most common diagnosis, this involves an urgent need to urinate resulting in the loss of urine before arriving at the toilet, caused by involuntary contractions of the bladder that can’t be stopped. Also called overactive bladder, it can be caused by strokes, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, or injuries. Conditions such as pelvic floor atrophy in women, prostate enlargement in men, or constipation in either sex can also lead to urge incontinence.
• Stress Incontinence: This occurs when an increase in abdominal pressure overcomes the closing pressure of the bladder. Abdominal pressure rises when you cough, sneeze, laugh, climb stairs, or lift objects. The bladder muscles of seniors may be so weak that leaking can occur just by getting up out of a chair. Stress incontinence is more common in women due to pregnancy and childbirth, and a lack of estrogen in postmenopausal women can also cause muscular atrophy that may lead to the condition. Men with enlarged prostates, have had prostate cancer treatments or surgery can also develop it.
• Overflow Incontinence: Rarely diagnosed, this occurs when one’s bladder never completely empties. Sufferers frequently feel the need to go and often leak small amounts of urine. This condition is often caused by an obstruction in the urinary tract system or by a bladder that either has very weak contractions or is unable to contract at all. Causes include an enlarged prostate or damage from prostate surgery, constipation, fecal impaction, and nerve damage from stokes or diabetes.
• Functional Incontinence: This incontinence is caused by disabilities. Arthritis could make unzipping one’s pants difficult, or a bad hip could make a trip to the facilities take longer than expected – and accidents might happen. Neurological disorders, stroke complications, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or multiple sclerosis are other causes. Often, the mind cannot plan or carry out a bathroom trip.
• Mixed Incontinence: People can have more than one type of incontinence. Usually there is a combination of stress and urge incontinence, especially in women. People with severe dementia, Parkinson’s disease, neurological disorders, or who have had strokes can suffer from urge and functional incontinence.

Urinary incontinence diagnosis: Your loved one may feel embarrassed by accidents and the use of absorbent pads or protective underwear, which, in turn, could trigger a reluctance to visit the doctor. Or there could be some confusion about which specialist to see. But stress to your loved one that the best reason to see a doctor is that senior urinary incontinence is quite treatable. If your loved one feels comfortable with his or her primary care doctor, start there. Women can also find a urogynecologist, while men could visit a urologist; either can see a geriatrician, or a nurse practitioner who specializes in incontinence issues. 

What to expect with Seniors and Bladder Incontinence:

A urinalysis to rule out infection or blood in the urine; blood tests to check on kidney function, calcium and glucose levels; a thorough discussion of one’s medical history; and a complete physical exam, including a rectal exam and a pelvic exam for women, and a urological exam for men. The doctor may prescribe a medicine that calms muscles and nerves to treat an overactive bladder. If leakage is caused by weak muscles, the doctor or nurse can suggest exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles. The doctor may fit a woman with a device worn in the vagina that helps lift the bladder. If other treatments fail, surgery may be suggested to improve bladder control.

What caregivers can do to help:

Avoid giving drinks like caffeinated coffee, tea, and sodas that increase urination, but don’t limit water; keep pathways clear and the bathroom clutter-free with a light on at all times; make sure there are regular bathroom breaks; if there is a tendency to leak urine at certain times of the day, trips to the bathroom ahead of time can help; supply underwear that is easy to get on and off; and use absorbent underclothes for trips away from home.

Discussing it with your loved one:

Find a time when you and your loved one can be alone together, and discuss the subject with sensitivity and clarity. This is a dignity issue. Help your loved one understand that dignity is very important to both of you.

Comfort Keepers^® can help. We offer a wide range of in-home care services ranging from personal care to companionship. Our services can include bathing, grooming, and hygiene; mobility assistance; toileting and incontinence care; dementia care; meal preparation; household tasks; and more. Call the Comfort Keepers Orangeville office today!

Bonus Article: What to Expect with Home Care

References:

A Place for Mom. “Elderly Urinary Incontinence: Causes & Care.” Web. 2016.

AgingCare.com. “Urinary and Bowel Incontinence for the Elderly and Aging.” Web. 2016.

WebMD. “Over Half of Seniors Plagued by Incontinence: CDC.” Web. 2014.

AgingCare.com. “How to Approach the Subject of Incontinence and Adult Diapers with an Elderly Parent.” Web. 2016.

NIH National Institute on Aging. “Urinary Incontinence.” Web. 2016.

Love for the Caregiver

Love for the Caregiver – Caring for others is often driven by motivations of love and understanding. It’s not uncommon for family caregivers to initially feel that their capacity for helping those they love is nearly limitless. From taking care of finances and managing medications to preparing meals and cleaning, there’s certainly a sense of fulfillment that comes along with assisting a loved one. But many find themselves going through the motions of caring without taking time out to focus on their own needs – often to the point of physical and emotional exhaustion. As a result, family caregivers may feel something they’ve never experienced before decreased empathy. This condition is known as compassion fatigue.

Fast Fact
According to CARP more than 8 million Canadians provided informal care to a family member or friend. More than 1 million caregivers are older than 65.

Compassion Fatigue

In decades past, compassion fatigue was seen primarily in healthcare professionals. This should hardly come as a surprise considering the profession involves constantly helping patients who are suffering or experiencing a diminished quality of life. But as the country’s ageing population continues to grow, there are many family caregivers who are left feeling much the same way.

In addition to the lower threshold of empathy, family caregivers experiencing compassion fatigue may feel the following:

• Exhaustion (physical and/or emotional)
• Feelings of dread or guilt
• Irritability, anxiety, or anger
• Difficulty sleeping
• Difficulty making decisions
• Feeling disconnected
• Trouble finding meaning in caregiving
• Self-isolation

Outside relationships suffer as well. In a collaborative research study with the Stanford Center on Longevity, Comfort Keepers, and ClearCare, it was indicated that those responsible for a loved one with a severe illness experience poor emotional wellbeing because of their inability to properly maintain their social lives. The results of the study highlight the increasing need for family caregivers to not only acknowledge their compassion fatigue but also take steps toward self-care. Doing so can certainly help the family caregiver, but it will also help mend the relationship with their loved one.

What to Do Next:

Below are a few steps that family caregivers can take to combat compassion fatigue and get back to feeling positive about caring for their loved ones.

• Understand the common signs of compassion fatigue (listed above) and acknowledge them if they occur.
• Practice a self-care regimen that includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, and consistent sleep.
• Carve out time to spend with friends and maintain social connections.
• Find a caregiver support program, either in the community or online.
• Document your thoughts and feelings related to caregiving in a journal.
• Choose healthy activities during your downtime (e.g., go for a walk, meditate, or practice a favourite hobby).
• Discuss your feelings with a counsellor or therapist.

An Informative Read: Seniors and Blood Pressure Management

Love for a Caregiver Contest

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching we thought we would help celebrate the dedicated caregivers in our community. A Wrinkle in Time, a medical esthetics clinic in Orangeville, approached us about partnering for a ‘Love for the Caregiver’ Contest. Tammy Brady, RN and owner of A Wrinkle in Time, has generously donated a $100 Reflexology Gift Card and a $100 Gift Card towards a service or treatment. The idea is for both the caregiver and patient to use these gift certificates together and to both receive some well-deserved pampering. Tammy has been a nurse in the Orangeville area for over 20 years and understands how essential it is for the caregiver to make self-care a priority.

A Wrinkle in Time offers many services and treatments that will help rejuvenate any caregiver. Reflexology uses the feet and hands as a means of activating the body’s reflexes to promote relaxation and healing. It is an amazing service for clients of all ages. The patient or caregiver can use either gift card.

To Submit a Nomination:

To nominate a caregiver, go to Comfort Keepers Orangeville’s Facebook or Instagram page and post a photo and/or a few words about this special person that deserves some much-needed pampering. The contest closes on February 12th and the winner will be announced on February 14th. The winner’s story and/or photo will be used in a social media post.

Comfort Keepers Orangeville Facebook Page

Comfort Keepers Orangeville Instagram Account

For more information on A Wrinkle in Time Inc. visit A Wrinkle in Time – Orangeville, Ontario