As is known, with age, the functions of various body systems change, and there are failures in their work. This also happens with the genitourinary system. According to statistics, 43 out of 100 elderly people face this problem. Every second woman after 45-50 years experiences urinary incontinence - this is often associated with the manifestations of menopause.

Urinary incontinence can also be temporary. It occurs with neurological and some other diseases, and can also be caused by taking medications (sedatives, anticholinergics, diuretics), infections, and excess weight. This problem also occurs with metabolic disorders in diabetes, heart failure, and also due to forced reduced motor activity in injuries and arthritis. If you fight these problems and diseases, you can also stop the problem of urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence: what is the danger?

This problem causes both physical and moral suffering: a bedridden patient may urinate in clothes or in bed, without being able to monitor the work of the bladder or delay its contraction. In this case, our elderly loved one may experience a feeling of shame, awkwardness, but is unable to cope with the situation on his own.

Urinary incontinence causes inflammation, ulcerative changes in the skin of the perineum. Another danger is urinary tract infections. Finally, this delicate problem leads a person to a state of neurosis and even depression. Many elderly people distance themselves from loved ones because of this, are embarrassed, try not to go outside, social isolation occurs.

Care Features

The biggest risk is complications due to inflammation or irritation from urinary incontinence, so you should try to prevent them from occurring.

Make sure that the elderly person's skin is always dry and clean. Hygiene procedures are the main assistant here. Be sure to wash your intimate parts of the body at least 4-6 times a day. It is also important to make sure that underwear is changed at least once a day.

Diapers should be changed on exactly the same schedule. A person suffering from urinary incontinence should not wear a diaper for a long time without changing it - this again causes diaper rash and inflammation. Check the cleanliness of the diaper as often as possible. It is important to use high-quality urological products.

Make sure your loved one goes to the toilet as often as possible (at least every 2 hours). Remember that older people with this problem sometimes cannot control this moment themselves and even forget about it, not feeling the emptying of the bladder. This is also associated with concomitant diseases, including psychological ones.

Be sure to use special skin care products, this will prevent the appearance of diaper rash and bedsores. If skin inflammation is already observed, treat the painful areas with healing creams. Also yoy can read how cdpap works in new york.

Medicinal assistance

Of course, correct medical recommendations for eliminating the causes of urinary incontinence should be given by a doctor - first of all, a urologist (it is important to avoid possible diseases of the genitourinary system, including inflammation), in case of concomitant diseases, it is also worth contacting specialized specialists.

It is advisable to use antispasmodics in the afternoon and evening.

At night, it is better to try to give the ward less liquid (during the day, while maintaining the recommended volume of drinking of at least 1 liter). Sour juices, such as cranberry, help well. Use disinfectants when treating the genitals - for example, furacilin, chlorhexidine, a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Nuances of Psychology

As we have already noted, an elderly patient with urinary incontinence often feels awkward and ashamed because of their physiological problems. Try to treat the problem delicately. Let your loved one understand that this is an understandable situation for everyone, that their condition does not burden or irritate you, but at the same time it is necessary to follow all the rules and recommendations to alleviate the condition.

Often, older people are stubborn and irritable, for example, believing that they are “too early” or “don’t want to”, but we must remember that sometimes a person experiencing urinary incontinence cannot control the emptying of the bladder due to a disorder of the neuromuscular work of the genitourinary system. Therefore, calmly but confidently try to convince your loved one that it is time to go to the toilet.