Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. As the disease progresses, individuals may experience various forms of incontinence, particularly in the middle and late stages. The disease's impact on memory, thinking skills, and daily functioning can lead to difficulties with everyday activities, including managing incontinence.
Memory Impairment: Forgetting recent conversations and events, difficulty remembering words, and impaired reasoning and judgment.
Environmental Obstacles: Difficulty recognizing the need to use the bathroom, medical conditions, and medication side effects.
UTI Risks: Catheters can increase the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs), particularly when individuals pull the catheter.
QuickChange Wrap: A non-invasive, discreet, and comfortable alternative for male patients to manage incontinence.
By understanding the causes and symptoms of incontinence in Alzheimer's patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals can better manage this challenging condition and provide effective solutions for improved quality of life.
There are three stages of Alzheimer's disease: mild, moderate, and severe. The mild stage is an early stage of the disease in which the individual can still function independently. Those in the moderate stage show significant memory loss, difficulty recognizing family and friends, confusion, and personality changes. The severe stage, the final stage of the disease, is when the person will require help with basic activities like eating and walking.
What symptoms may look like:
Dementia and Alzheimer's disease are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Dementia is a group of symptoms that can be caused by several factors, while Alzheimer's disease is a specific type of dementia caused by the progressive damage and destruction of nerve cells in the brain.
By understanding the differences between dementia and Alzheimer's disease, as well as the various causes of dementia-like symptoms, individuals can better manage their condition and improve their quality of life.
When your loved one begins to deal with incontinence, it's essential to discuss with your doctor as it may not have to do with their ability to recognize that they need to use the restroom. Possible causes include:
Medical conditions such as UTIs, constipation, and prostate problems. Incontinence can also be a result of diabetes, a stroke, or a muscular disorder.
Medication such as for sleeping or to reduce anxiety may relax the bladder muscles, which can lead to urinary incontinence.
When caring for an Alzheimer's patient with incontinence, there are steps that caregivers can take to aid the situation.
First, it's important to understand that accidents can be embarrassing for the person, so it's best to approach the situation in ways that preserve dignity. Be matter-of-fact, don't scold. That being said, communication is vital, both in encouraging the person to communicate with you if they need to use the bathroom and in letting them know that it's safe to talk to you.
Make finding the bathroom easy for them by keeping the bathroom door open, so the toilet is visible. Remove any items that could be mistaken for a toilet, such as trashcans and plant pots.
As the caregiver, pay attention to that person's bathroom routine and schedule so that you may be able to remind them to go to the restroom. Be sure to choose clothing that is easy to remove and clean, as accidents can happen at any time.
When leaving the house, make a note of where bathrooms will be at your destination, and when there, let the patient know where the restrooms are. When going out, padded undergarments and adult briefs can be used, even if the person doesn't ordinarily use them—this can be of help when going somewhere where getting to the toilet might be difficult. In these situations, if the man is bowel and urine incontinent, a QuickChange can be used in conjunction with briefs— this way, if only the wrap is soiled, you won't need to change the briefs as well.
As Alzheimer's disease reaches the last stages, the brain changes affect physical functions. Someone impacted by the disease may have difficulty swallowing, balancing, and bowel and bladder control. These symptoms can, in turn, increase the patient's vulnerability to:
While medication can for a time improve or slow the progression of symptoms, however, no treatment cures Alzheimer's disease. Your doctor may prescribe drugs to slow down the progression of the disease. However, it's important to understand available options to treat some symptoms to improve quality of life.
People affected by this disease often have a difficult time sleeping. While medication may be prescribed, there are also non-drug approaches that doctors recommend trying first. Sleep problems can be made worse by depression, restless leg syndrome, and sleep apnea.
To help promote rest:
Changes in behavior begin to happen as the brain cells deteriorate. This can often look like irritability, aggression, emotional distress, anxiety, delusions, hallucinations, and depression. Change can be stressful for anyone, but it can be particularly difficult for someone affected by Alzheimer's disease.
Situations that may trigger distress:
For the caregiver, it is essential to identify what may trigger the person's response. It's also vital for the caregiver to recognize that the person isn't intentionally mean but that it is a symptom of the disease.
Some ways to manage these symptoms include:
When non-drug approaches fail, medication will be needed to help with sleep and behavior.
There can be many challenges when caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease, and the care tends to be long-term. According to the CDC, 32% of caregivers working with a patient with dementia end up providing care for five or more years.
Planning activities is an excellent way for caregivers to keep their loved ones or patient engaged. Activities are best planned at the time of the day when the person with Alzheimer's is at their best. Some great activities to plan for:
When going out, some caregivers will carry cards that they'll hand out that say things like, "My partner has Alzheimer's disease and may say or do unexpected things. Thank you for understanding."
A nutritious diet is important for everyone, but particularly when someone has this disease. People with Alzheimer's may forget when they last ate, eat the same foods every day, or forget how to cook. As a caregiver, you can ensure that the person is getting enough nutritious food by giving them finger foods that are easy to pick up and eat, easy to chew, and serving meals at the same time every day.
Anxiety can become high for a person with Alzheimer's, so helping boost their self-esteem can be helpful. It's essential to ensure that everyday hygienic tasks are done, like brushing teeth, showering, and trimming nails. Other important routines include getting them dressed by helping choose and layout outfits, also opting for clothing with velcro or zippers.
Some of the products that can help when caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease:
The challenges of this disease also make self-care particularly important for the caregiver. Caring for a family member with Alzheimer's disease can affect the caregiver's physical and mental well-being. You can't pour from an empty cup, which is why self-care is so important. So, what can you do?
Some ways to take care of yourself as a caregiver include:
Don't be afraid to ask for help. Caring for someone with Alzheimer's isn't easy, and you don't have to do everything yourself. You can ask for help by asking people that you're close with to make meals, visit, or take care of the person for a short time. There are also home healthcare services that you can reach out to, and there are national resources that help pay for some of this help.
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Sources
-Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350447
-National Institute of Aging
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-alzheimers-disease
-Alzheimer's Association
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/treatments/for-sleep-changes
-Medical News Today
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326374#communication
-Alzheimer's Association: 2018 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures