Tips For Managing Urinary Incontinence In Older Adults in Victoria, BC

Uncategorized  |  September 24, 2019

Urinary incontinence is a common problem among older adults. When untreated, incontinence can take a toll on a person’s health and social connections and severely damage their self-esteem.

Fortunately, incontinence can be easily managed through the introduction of physician-approved lifestyle changes and treatments.

How Incontinence Occurs

When we urinate, the muscles in the bladder tighten and move the urine into a tube known as the urethra. Simultaneously, the muscles surrounding the urethra tend to relax to allow the elimination of urine from the body.

Incontinence happens when muscles in and around the bladder are not working properly. Involuntary leakage of urine can occur over short periods of time, often caused by a urinary infection, constipation, or as a side effect of prescribed medications.

Diagnosing and Treating Incontinence

Depending on the severity of your loved one’s symptoms, a specialist may recommend:

• A urinalysis in order to rule out an infection or blood in the urine
• Blood tests to examine calcium and glucose levels and whether the kidneys are working properly
• A thorough physical exam
• Medication to treat an overactive bladder
• A low-impact exercise regimen to strengthen the pelvic muscles
• A surgical procedure if nothing else seems to improve the condition

Managing Incontinence at Home

Certain lifestyle changes can help your parent to lessen the symptoms and manage their incontinence more adequately:

Pelvic muscle exercises – This is a regular regimen that focuses on strengthening the pelvic muscles and it can eliminate incontinence in some cases.

Timed bathroom breaks – Sticking to a pre-determined restroom schedule can help aging adults with urge and overflow incontinence.

Fluid and diet management – Your loved one should seek advice from their physician about introducing certain dietary changes and what food and drinks to avoid.

Behavioral changes – Some lifestyle choices can make incontinence worse. Among other things, your loved one should avoid drinking alcohol and beverages that contain caffeine, quit smoking, and refrain from lifting heavy objects.

Comfort Keepers Can Help

If your parent has special care needs related to incontinence, Comfort Keepers can help. Our trained caregivers can support a physician-recommended diet and exercise plans, provide medication reminders and transportation to scheduled appointments, monitor physical changes and symptoms, and much more.

Contact Comfort Keepers of Victoria today to learn more about how we can help your parent manage incontinence and improve their overall health and quality of life at home. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

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