Reasons for Having Incontinence
Have you or your loved one’s caregiver noticed that your elderly loved one can’t hold their bladder very well lately? This could mean that your elderly loved one has incontinence. There are different types of incontinence that your elderly loved one might have. You should have your loved one see their doctor for a diagnosis and treatment. In the meantime, it might help you to know more about why your elderly loved one might have incontinence.
Dementia
One of the reasons that your elderly loved one might have incontinence is due to dementia. When someone has dementia, the pathways in their brain (the ones that control the bladder) don’t always work properly. This can happen at the beginning, middle, or end stages of dementia. If this is happening with your elderly loved one, they might not know when they need to go to the bathroom. Due to this, accidents might occur.
Age-Related Issues

Caregiver Powdersville SC – Reasons for Having Incontinence
There are some age-related issues that might cause your elderly loved one to have incontinence, as well. Some of these issues include the following:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Prostate gland issues
- Side effects from medications
- Problems with mobility
- Not willing to accept help in the bathroom
- Fear of falling
- Embarrassed
These are some of the things that happen to many elderly people. If your elderly loved one is having incontinence, you might want to see if these things are causing the problem.
Other Issues
There might be some other issues that cause your elderly loved one to have incontinence, as well. Some of these issues might include the following:
- Being in an unfamiliar environment
- Stress
- Depression
- Infection
If dementia and age-related issues don’t seem to be the problem, your elderly loved one’s incontinence is likely due to one of these issues. It is best to get your elderly loved one an appointment with their doctor. The doctor can ask questions, get your elderly loved one’s medical history, and do tests to determine why the incontinence is happening.
How a Caregiver can Help
Incontinence can be embarrassing. However, it is important to let your elderly loved one know that they don’t need to be ashamed. You and their caregiver are there to help. If they need help using the bathroom, all they need to do is let you know.
Don’t forget – if you don’t already know why your elderly loved one is having incontinence, you should have them see their doctor as soon as you can. Sometimes, there are treatments that can help to stop or control incontinence.
Sources: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/urinary-incontinence-older-adults
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Caregiver Services in Powdersville SC, please contact the caring staff at Upstate Home Care Solutions today. Call (864) 527-0455.
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