Incontinence for Dementia Patients – Understanding the Basics

Many dementia caregivers consider incontinence one of the most demanding care issues to manage. Seek medical care as soon as you see signs of incontinence to rule out any curable reasons for bladder/bowel control concerns, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI), drug side effects, or constipation. If no reversible cause is found, applying a few techniques may assist in managing incontinence at home. You may assist a person with dementia in managing incontinence by being compassionate, promoting communication, making the toilet convenient, and planning. This blog will highlight what fundamental strategies can help you manage incontinence for dementia patients.

What is The Relationship Between Dementia and Incontinence?

Dementia weakens the brain, causing patients to feel disoriented, nervous, and confused. Dementia patients often experience memory impairments and increasing difficulties with daily activities such as conversing, bathing, cooking, and using the toilet. In the mid to late stages of the disease, dementia can cause incontinence. Incontinence for dementia patients can occur for various reasons, including diminishing cognitive function, medications, and environmental challenges that hinder individuals from finding or accessing the bathroom promptly.

In dementia, incontinence may become more of a problem as the person forgets

• Where to find the toilet
• What to do when they get to the toilet
• How to unfasten their clothes

Key Points to Remember

Incontinence may seem like the final nail when caring for someone with dementia. However, steps can be taken to lessen the problem or make it less stressful. You must get expert assistance as soon as possible and be capable of handling it. Incontinence can be pretty distressing for a person who has dementia. It is beneficial to stay calm, gentle, firm, and patient while attempting to accept and overcome your embarrassment at assisting the individual in such an intimate manner. Sometimes a little humour can help. Here are a few points to assist you in caring for someone with incontinence

Need-to-Know Tips

• Examine various incontinence supplies. Pads and undergarments come in multiple styles. People have distinct demands, and different goods will work best for them. For example, pull-up underwear will provide increased absorption. Do not call them adult diapers, but instead, protective underwear.
• Dementia patients frequently refuse to wear protective undergarments. However, some tactics may be helpful, such as incorporating underwear as a regular part of getting dressed in the morning. If your loved one objects, you could explain, “This will benefit you since you won’t have to race to the bathroom and risk falling.”
• Use disposable protective pads for beds, chairs, and vehicle seats.
• If you assist the person in discarding a dirty adult pad/panty or changing into clean garments, use disposable gloves and flushable wipes. Other odour-neutralizing sprays can be helpful.
• Carry a change of protective underwear and clothes with you when you go out in case of an emergency.
• Also, if you or the person with dementia are exposed to urine or feces, wash your hands and hands with soap and water, and use gloves if necessary.
• Make sure you have everything you need in the restroom, such as protective underwear, pads, gloves, wipes, powder, creams/and lotions. You don’t want to leave someone on the toilet while you get these supplies.

Conclusion

It is necessary to safeguard people’s privacy and dignity. Losing control can be humiliating and unpleasant, and families and caregivers must be aware of this. However, accidents are unavoidable, so try not to be overly concerned. Instead, get help controlling the situation and take frequent pauses.