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Elder Care Spotlight: Incontinence and How To Support This Shift...

Urinary incontinence is when someone leaks urine on accident. Elderly women are the most common population effected by it, even though it can happen to anyone. During urination, the bladder fills and then tightens in order to move the urine into the urethra. Once the urethra relaxes, the urine is able to pass through the body. If the muscles of the bladder or surrounding area aren't working right, then urine is able to leak out and the person gets diagnosed with urinary incontinence. UTI's, infections, or even constipation can cause incontinence. Also, pelvic floor muscle strength, over or under-active bladder muscles, nerve damage, pelvic prolapse, prostatitis, or an enlarged prostate gland are all reasons why some people have incontinence. It can also manifest out of stress to the body (from lifting heavy items, coughing/sneezing, laughing, etc), an inability to hold one's bladder long enough to get to the toilette on time, an inability to empty the bladder all the way, or other problems that stop someone from getting to the bathroom (like arthritis or pain the causes slower movement, Alzheimer's disease causing a lack of realization that one needs to urinate, or forgetting to go altogether).


Some helpful lifestyle changes that can be made to help with incontinence are weight loss, quitting alcohol and tobacco, and drinking more water than any other types of beverages. Other techniques to manage incontinence are daily pelvic Kegel exercises, scheduling bathroom breaks on every hour, drinking less before bedtime, or taking medicine, biofeedback, electrical currents or even surgery to help heal the urinary tract. A quick supporter of incontinence that helps one avoid embarrassment in public is wearing incontinence pads, incontinence underwear, or adult diapers. Having this type of support can help give one time to figure out a more permanent solution. As it is part of the aging process for many people, incontinence is sometimes avoidable with a very simple, but profound, shift in lifestyle. For others, it is something they will have to live with for the rest of their lives. Either way, it is common and there are solutions that can work for everyone. With Love and understanding, this is another aging side effect that we have tools to deal with in a healthy and productive manner.

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