How To Help Seniors Manage Urinary Incontinence At Home

Vancouver Senior Health  |  September 24, 2019

What Every Senior in Vancouver, BC Needs to Know About Managing Incontinence At Home

Urinary incontinence is the inability to control urine elimination – a condition that is fairly common in aging adults. Although many seniors may have more serious medical concerns to think about, untreated incontinence can cause several health complications, affect social connections, and ruin a person’s self-esteem.

For these reasons, successfully treating and managing incontinence is an important factor in maintaining independence and quality of life in senior years.

What Causes Urinary incontinence?

During urination, muscles known as urethral sphincters tighten to push urine from the bladder into a tube called the urethra. At the same time, the muscles around the urethra loosen up to allow the exit of urine. When these sphincters in and around the bladder are not working properly, incontinence occurs. In most cases, incontinence happens over short periods and is most commonly caused by an infection of the urinary tract or constipation or as a result of side effects of a newly introduced medication.

Urinary Incontinence Treatment

Depending on the frequency and intensity of incontinence, a doctor can recommend the following:

• A urinalysis that will rule out infections or traces of blood in the urine
• Checking kidney functions, calcium, and glucose levels through blood tests
• A complete physical exam
• Treating an overactive bladder with medicine
• Exercises that help strengthen the pelvic muscles
• Surgery is often advised when other treatment options do not seem to be working

Tips on Managing Urinary Incontinence at Home

Introducing a few simple changes can help older adults manage their incontinence issues more effectively. Here are some suggestions.

Pelvic muscle exercises – Special exercises may help strengthen the muscles that control urination and significantly reduce and even eliminate incontinence.

Bladder training – Going to the bathroom on a predetermined timetable at, let’s say, every two hours can help older adults prevent involuntary leakage.

Fluid and diet management – Seniors should refrain from food and drinks known to irritate the bladder. Before making any dietary changes, aging adults should also make sure to discuss their diet and fluid intake with their doctor.

Behavioural changes – In addition to certain fluid and dietary changes, older adults can also improve incontinence by quitting alcohol and tobacco, avoiding beverages with high levels of caffeine, and refraining from strenuous activities such as lifting objects that are too heavy.

Comfort Keepers® is the Best Senior Home Care Provider in Vancouver, BC

Comfort Keepers® is the preferred choice for many families when arranging senior home care services for a loved one in or around Vancouver. If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care, End of Life Care, Respite Care, and much more! 

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver Can Help with Interactive Caregiving™

Comfort Keepers®’s trained caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Our philosophy is to elevate the human spirit and our caregivers will be there every step of the way to ensure your loved one has a better quality of life. Personal and empathetic care is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs. Learn more about our unique service which offers personal care, companionship care, palliative care, and end-of-life care by contacting the Comfort Keepers Vancouver office.

Comfort Keepers® Brings You The Best Home Care Assistance Right Where You Live.

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver is proud to provide home care throughout Vancouver that keeps seniors safe in their homes. We provide home care for the seniors of Vancouver and the surrounding areas of Burnaby, Langley, Maple Ridge, and Richmond please call (604) 689-8609. 

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver has been accredited with Exemplary Standing with Accreditation Canada. Accreditation is an intensive process in which industry experts examine an organization’s processes, policies, and procedures against quality standards. To achieve accredited status, Comfort Keepers offices met or exceeded the rigorous standards for Home Care companies, as defined by Accreditation Canada. 

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