UTI Guidelines for Alzheimer's Caregivers
For people with Alzheimer's disease urinary tract infections can present particular difficulties. Urinary tract infection can have a devastating effect on the health and behavior of someone with Alzheimer's. Let's look at some of the issues and the solutions.
Accurate Diagnosis is Essential
Treatment of urinary incontinence depends on the underlying cause being identified. A visit to your family doctor is the vital first step to finding out the causes of urinary incontinence. The doctor should then provide a complete physical examination. The information you give the doctor, coupled with the often very simple tests that can be carried out, the cause will become evident.
Accurate diagnosis and treatment can often cure or at least minimize symptoms, so don't put off visiting your doctor.
Treatments for Urinary Tract Infections in Alzheimer's
Most people can be treated for urinary tract infection at home unless the person cannot care for themselves, is unable to take fluids, or if the disease is very serious or there are serious complications.
Management of UTI in Alzheimer's Disease
When someone with Alzheimer's disease has a urinary tract infection it does present special difficulties. Urinary incontinence, changes in behavior, sleeplessness and discomfort are amongst these changes. This impacts on you as the caregiver and the routines you have built up over time.
There is a lot of useful equipment that can help you manage incontinence. However, it is still important to keep up previous toilet routines & trips to the bathroom, otherwise incontinence may become a permanent feature.
For men urinary incontinence can be managed using a condom catheter. You can attach a condom like rubber onto the penis that is attached by a small tube to a leg bag can allow freedom of movement without being obvious to others.
Absorbent underwear can help. Frequent changes are best. Combine this with good hygiene to keep the area clean.
Good Hygiene is very important. If possible use showers rather than baths
Make sure that someone with Alzheimer's who has a urinary infection drinks plenty of water unless otherwise instructed by the doctor.
Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections in Alzheimer's
Disease
People prone to UTI's can help prevent
recurrence as follows:
If someone has frequent recurrent urinary tract infections the doctor may consider a low dose of antibiotics for periods of 6 months or more.
