Has your loved one been having accidents? Do they sometimes pee themselves before they can make it to the bathroom? Maybe they pee themselves when they are laughing. There are different types of incontinence that your loved one might have. Knowing the cause of the incontinence can help them to get the right treatment. Once the type of incontinence is determined, you can have your loved one’s home care providers help with their treatment and care.

Stress Incontinence

Stress incontinence is not what it may seem. It doesn’t have to do with the stress that your loved one is under. It has to do with other things such as when your loved one is laughing, coughing, or jumping. These things can cause incontinence. Generally, the leakage will only be minor. If your loved one has stress incontinence, there are treatments to help handle it.

Urge Incontinence

Urge incontinence is another type of incontinence that your loved one might have. Does your loved one have to rush to go to the bathroom? Do they always need to find the closest bathroom? Does this happen even if their bladder isn’t full? If they don’t reach the bathroom quick enough, do they have an accident? If so, they may have urge incontinence.

Mixed Incontinence

Mixed incontinence is a mixture of both urge and stress incontinence. If your loved one has accidents when they laugh or jump and when they can’t make it to the bathroom quick enough, they may have mixed incontinence.

Overflow Incontinence

Is your elderly loved one having accidents without knowing about it? By this, maybe they don’t know they have to go to the bathroom. This happens when urine flow is blocked. Their bladder and everything works properly, they just have a blockage that overflows when it gets too full.

Functional Incontinence

Functional incontinence is another type of incontinence that your loved one might have. This is generally seen with people who have dementia. They may not know they need to use the bathroom, so making it their before they have an accident may happen often. In addition, when getting to the bathroom, your elderly loved one might not remember what they are supposed to do. This can lead to an accident, as well.

Reflex Incontinence

Lastly, your loved one might have reflex incontinence. Your elderly loved ones’ bladder muscles might tighten suddenly. This can cause urine to leak out. This generally happens more in those who have a spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis.

If your loved one is having accidents, check with their doctor to see what type of incontinence they may have. Getting to the bottom of this issue is one of the best things you can do for your loved ones. There are treatments, depends, and other methods that can be used to help with incontinence.

Sources

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/urinary-incontinence-older-adults

Author
Recent Posts

Ellen Samson

CEO at American Geriatric Care Management

American Geriatric was founded from personal experience of Ellen. Originating from a culture-rich country and strong family ties, Ellen felt the need of sharing the responsibility of taking care of the elders of the family. Growing up with the grandpas’ and grandmas’ love and care, spoiled with kisses and gifts and advice gave her the passion for returning the care.

In June 2011, American Geriatric was incorporated.It started out with a few staff. With the increasing number of clients signing up for in-home care, it expanded its network and multiplied the number of care providers to accommodate the need. In January 2012, health coordination and family dynamics support services were offered to cater to a more complex care needs of the elderly.

American Geriatric is now a full-fledged licensed Home Care Organization regulated by Home Care Services Bureau of California Department of Social Services, in full compliance with AB1217, The Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act.