5 Ways To Manage Urinary Incontinence In Seniors
Urinary incontinence is more common among elderly people and it can make their lives very difficult. If your senior family member has trouble holding in their urine, they may even be embarrassed to go out in public. As their caregiver, you can make things a little easier on them. Here are five effective ways for managing urinary incontinence in seniors:
Keep the Bathroom Hallway Free of Clutter
When your elderly loved one has an urge to urinate, they must be able to get to the bathroom as quickly as possible. If there are clothes and other items in the bathroom leading to the hallway, they will not be able to get to the toilet quickly and safely, increasing the risk of an accident.
Buy a Waterproof Mattress
If your senior family member suffers from urinary incontinence, accidents are bound to happen sometimes. You can save yourself some stress by getting your loved one a waterproof mattress. This type of mattress will not just make laundry days easier; it will also keep your family member's skin dry and infection free.
Suggest Pelvic Floor Exercises
The stronger your elderly loved one's pelvic floor muscles, the fewer accidents they will have. Encourage your family member to do Kegel exercises every day to keep accidents to a minimum. Have your loved one sit down in a chair and squeeze their pelvic floor muscles for a few seconds and release. Tell them to repeat at least 10 times.
Encourage Your Loved One to Lose Weight
If your senior family member is currently overweight, you should encourage them to lose a few pounds. Extra weight can put more pressure on the abdomen, making urinary incontinence much worse. Dropping even a little weight can reduce the number of accidents they have.
Have Your Family Member Go to the Bathroom More Frequently
It is wise for people with urinary incontinence to go to the bathroom at least every two or three hours. If your elderly loved one always waits until their bladder is full to use the toilet, they will be more likely to have accidents. Remind your family member to use the bathroom more frequently throughout the day.
Urinary incontinence can definitely be a pain at times, but it does not have to completely take over your elderly loved one's life. If you follow these helpful tips, you can help your family member control this issue better. If you have questions, contact a home health care service.
