While anyone can have an occasional “accident,” older women are the most likely to develop regular incontinence. Incontinence occurs when there is an overactive bladder. The bladder resides in the lower abdomen and is a hollow organ responsible for moving urine to the urethra when a person urinates. When the muscles of the bladder stop working well, urine can leak at the most inopportune times. A 24-hour home care team who assists your loved one in the home can help her with some the tips suggested here.
Common Causes of Incontinence
Urinary incontinence can happen for many reasons. Some reasons cause just some occasional leakage such as a urinary tract infection or constipation. Some medications may also cause short-term issues with incontinence. When incontinence becomes a chronic issue, it can often be linked to these reasons:
- Overactive bladder muscle
- Weakened pelvic floor muscles
- Pelvic organ prolapse: the pelvic organs shift out of place making it more difficult for them to work properly
- Bladder nerve damage due to diabetes or Parkinson’s disease
- Mobility issues that make getting to the bathroom on time difficult
Managing and Living with Incontinence
If your loved one has shared with you that incontinence has become a daily (or nightly) battle, there are many treatments and products your loved one can use to help her control her incontinence and prevent it from stopping her from enjoying all aspects of life. She should meet with her doctor to determine what the key cause of her incontinence is and determine if there are any medical or pharmaceutical treatments that she can use. After those options, it often helps to combine them with lifestyle changes and even retrain the bladder.
Three tips for bladder control training:
Pelvic Muscle Exercises. Your loved one may be able to strengthen her pelvic muscles by learning some exercises to practice regularly to build up their strength.
Timed voiding. Your loved one may need regular reminders to void her bladder so it doesn’t get too full. With a 24-hour home care provider in the home at all times, she’s more likely to stay on a schedule that keeps her dry all day and evening.
Urgency suppression. This training helps your loved one learn how to distract herself when she has an immediate and strong need to pee but no way to get to a toilet quickly.
Four tips for lifestyle changes
Sometimes making a few lifestyle changes can make a huge difference in the amount of incontinence issues your loved one has each day.
- Choose mostly water to drink instead of caffeinated or alcohol-based drinks. Water will flow more easily and prevent overstimulation of the bladder. Drinking plenty of water during the day will also help your loved one if she is trying to stay on a timed voiding schedule to help her bladder become more regular. Her 24-hour home care team may help her with reminders throughout the day to keep up with her hydration needs.
- Avoid drinking in the evening. While drinking plenty of water during the day is good, your loved one might want to avoid drinking too much before bed.
- Make diet adjustments if needed. Some people find relief when they cut out overly spicy foods from their diet.
- With each bathroom visit, stay long enough to fully empty the bladder.
If you or an aging loved one are considering 24-Hour Home Care Services in Ontario OH, please contact the caring staff at Central Star Home Health today. Call 419-756-9449
Central Star Home Health is a Trusted Home Care Agency in Ohio including Ashland, Bellville, Bucyrus, Crestline, Galion, Lexington, Mansfield, Marion, Mt. Vernon, Ontario, Shelby, and Willard.
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