Managing Urinary Incontinence in Seniors with In-Home Care

Edmonton Senior Health  |  September 24, 2019

What Every Senior in Edmonton, AB Needs to Know About Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence in seniors can significantly lower one’s quality of life.  Older adults who struggle with this condition can suffer from low self-esteem and avoid maintaining their social connections. Therefore, managing incontinence is necessary for a happy and active life of a senior. Luckily, incontinence is treatable and doctors can make recommendations based on the type of incontinence they diagnose.

Why Does Urinary Incontinence in Seniors Happen?

When we urinate, muscles in the bladder tighten to move urine into the urethra. While this happens, the muscles around the urethra relax so the urine can pass out of the body. Incontinence is usually caused by problems with these muscles. In other words, when these muscles don’t work properly, urine can leak.

Sometimes, conditions such as urinary tract infections or constipation can lead to incontinence. Also, it can occur as a side effect of some medication.

How is Urinary Incontinence Diagnosed and Treated?

If your loved one is experiencing this problem, they should visit their health provider and get blood tests to check on kidney function, calcium, and glucose levels. A physician can also perform a complete physical exam and check your parent’s medical history to rule out other diseases and diagnose urinary incontinence. 

As a part of treatment, your aging senior can receive medicine that calms muscles and nerves. A doctor can also prescribe regular exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles. If nothing works, surgery may be suggested.

How Can Urinary Incontinence be Managed with Lifestyle?

With some lifestyle changes, seniors can manage incontinence and improve their quality of life. If your loved one has been diagnosed with urinary incontinence they could try pelvic muscle exercises that work the muscles that can stop urination.

In addition, your parent could try going to the restroom on a schedule. Seniors who suffer from incontinence should also avoid food and drinks that irritate the bladder as well as lower the intake of alcohol and caffeine. Habits such as smoking can make incontinence worse.

Comfort Keepers® in Edmonton Can Help with In-Home Elder Care!

Trained caregivers help provide our senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with 24-hour care.

We offer retirement care, respite care, senior care, companionship care, end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, senior living transition services, and more! 

Companionship Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses companionship, safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs). Moreover, our trained caregivers are selected with one specific quality in mind, empathy. Empathetic care starts in the heart and allows us to meet our client’s needs.

Home Care Edmonton

To learn more about senior in-home care in Edmonton, contact the Comfort Keepers® office. Our service territory includes Edmonton, Devon, Sherwood Park, Stony Plain and surrounding areas, contact the Comfort Keepers Edmonton office at 780-465-4665.

Is Invoicing Modelling and Client Direct Home Care the Right Option for You?

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is an Approved Service Provider for the Client Directed Homecare Invoicing (CDHCI) Program Offered by Alberta Health Services. Read more about the program HERE.

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible. Recently awarded the “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” seal by Accreditation Canada, our Edmonton location has achieved the highest available certification in Canada for Home Care services. This honour demonstrates Comfort Keepers’ commitment to offering safe, high-quality home care to its senior clients in Edmonton.

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