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Elderly problem with bladder problem
Elderly people often have bladder issues. When your bladder starts to give out, it can have psychological as well as physical effects on a person. There are multiple reasons that bladder issues occur:
- A weakened pelvic floor
- Diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and diabetes
- Surgery
- Having a stroke
- Prescription side effects
- Alcohol abuse
- Too much caffeine
- Loss of the nerve signal for bladder fullness
A weakened pelvic floor happens most often to women as a result of pregnancy and childbirth. The consistent carrying of extra weight during pregnancy and the force used to birth a child can cause weakened pelvic floor muscles. Prostate surgery can have the same effect for men.
Thankfully there are some simple things that can be done to help manage if not cure urinary incontinence. For example, doing kegel exercises will strengthen and develop the pelvic floor muscles, which can reduce incontinence. In addition, simple lifestyle changes, such as altering prescriptions and reducing the consumption of alcohol and caffeine, can reduce or cure urinary incontinence. Elderly people can also manage their urinary incontinence by wearing clothing with snaps or Velcro, making it easier to remove clothing when the urge to urinate is felt.
More difficult bladder issues occur for people who have lost the nerve signal for bladder fullness; however, this is not impossible to cure. Retraining your bladder can be done to overcome this particular difficulty. Going to the toilet at regular intervals and keeping a urinary diary is one place to start. Gradually increase times between visits to the toilet and eventually, you will begin to recognize the urge to urinate again.
In situations where the above remedies are not successful, Depends or other similar undergarments may become necessary. Depends underwear or pads are a wonderful way to avoid many of the psychological or embarrassing effects that urinary incontinence can have on a person, as they can comfortably be worn underneath clothing and conceal accidents that may occur. Many elderly people do not want to wear incontinence underwear or pads, thinking them as more of “diapers” than anything else, but changes have been made to make them thinner and less noticeable. Having to wear a thin pad is a minor inconvenience when compared to the risk of embarrassment from involuntarily wetting yourself in public.
Urinary incontinence can be hard on your self-esteem, but it should be seen as an extremely manageable physical ailment. Following the above advice can help manage or cure urinary incontinence, such that many of the emotionally difficult aspects of the ailment can be avoided.
