Dementia - Alzheimer's - Incontinence is a Common Problem


Alzheimer's

If you are the caregiver for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s you may have the additional challenge of dealing with incontinence. Many seniors who are suffering from these conditions also experience incontinence as a result of the loss of cognitive functioning. Many times caregivers must turn to using adult diapers as the best means of managing and dealing with incontinence issues since the patient is unable to manage the incontinence themselves. Adult diapers can be bought anywhere that incontinence products are sold. The caregiver may need to purchase additional incontinence supplies such as incontinence bed pads and wipes that are specially made to deal with incontinence. These can also be bought on sites that offer adult incontinence products. For help and guidance in selecting incontinence products please click on http://caregiverpartnership.com/incontinence-product-finder.  You can also choose samples to try by clicking on http://caregiverpartnership.com/landing/samples.

It is important to stress that no matter the neurological state of the patient whenever someone is experiencing incontinence they should be evaluated by a doctor. Keep in mind that the dementia or Alzheimer’s itself is not directly causing the incontinence. The incontinence is only a side effect of these conditions. This means that there could be another underlying medical reason for the incontinence. Because of this it is crucial that any patient who is having incontinence symptoms be evaluated by their doctor. This way the doctor can determine the cause of the incontinence and recommend any applicable treatment.

Because there are so many care issues that surround a patient with dementia or Alzheimer’s it can be easy to overlook incontinence symptoms. However, it is important that caregivers understand that this is not a problem that typically gets better on its own. Incontinence management typically takes on two different forms. Treatment and in home management are the two different areas that caregivers will need to focus on.

Because of the limited cognitive abilities of patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s doctors typically do not prescribe physical therapy or behavioral therapies. These types of treatments often depend on heavy involvement from the patient which is most often not possible when it comes to patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Instead doctors often rely on medication, or in severe cases of incontinence, surgery for their patients who are already dealing with neurological issues. It is important to understand that even when a patient has dementia or Alzheimer’s some cases of incontinence are highly treatable.

In home management of incontinence can be done in several different ways. First, one of the home management steps that can make dealing with incontinence more effective is for caregivers to help their loved one visit the bathroom on a regular schedule. Regular bathroom breaks can cut down on the amount of incontinence accidents. Keep in mind that your loved one may be reluctant to go but with gentle persuasion you can keep them on a regular voiding schedule

Finally, the caregiver should make sure that the patient has the right incontinence product to meet their needs. Because of the limited capabilities of patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s many caregivers find that adult diapers work well to help manage incontinence. These adult diapers are designed to deal with moderate to heavy incontinence. Keep in mind that there are incontinence products for men and incontinence products for women and adult diapers are no different. You should choose the gender, style, and level of absorbency that is best for your loved one. Adult diapers are easy to remove and change so that caregivers can help to keep their loved one in their care dry and comfortable. To find out more about all aspects of incontinence please visit http://caregiverpartnership.com/landing/incontinence.



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