The patient/caregiver was educated on caring for the voiding and elimination needs for Alzheimer’s patients as follows:
- Caregivers must provide periodical reminders for restroom visits at defined time intervals and deliberate attempts to empty the bladder can help reduce incontinence episodes. Caregivers can also place reminders for the same on the patient’s phone or leave reminders posted on the wall in patient’s room, with time marked in bold for the scheduled restroom visit. Deliberate attempts at voiding can reduce risk for back-up of urine in the bladder, prevent undue retention of urine, and consequently, reduce risk for urinary tract infections.
- Alzheimer’s patients with coexisting prostate hypertrophy or neuropathy can often present with inability to empty the bladder completely, resulting in retention of urine in the bladder and back-up of urine into the ureters, and kidneys. This can result in frequent urinary tract infections, as retained urine is a favorable medium for bacterial growth. These individuals can also present with frequency and poor bladder control with episodes of urinary incontinence. Frequency of restroom trips can add frustration to their situation, which can make things worse. Deliberate attempts at voiding in these individuals and attempting to double void on restroom trips can reduce risk for retention of urine in the bladder and reduce risk for urinary tract infections.
- Caregivers must encourage their loved one regarding compliance with regular use of diapers to prevent embarrassing moments from urinary incontinence. Caregivers must also check periodically, every 2 – 3 hours and may be even earlier, regarding the need for diaper change. Prolonged exposure of skin to moisture from the wet diaper can damage the skin in the genital area, giving an opportunity for skin breakdown and development of pressure ulcers.
