What is Incontinence?
INCONTINENCE is the lack of voluntary control over urination (Dictionary)….the lack of self restraint of the bladder!
Run, Run, Run!! To the bathroom…….!
No! many senior cannot get to the bathroom in a hurry!
And many cannot get help in time, so gooooooo!
The only place that is convenient at the time may just be the underpants!
Or the comfort, and safe confinement of their bed…..!
It is a condition where the bladder is week due to illnesses, or due to the failure of the brain to transmit that important message to the bladder.
Incontinence is very common among the elderly community.
It is, by far one of the burning concerns that is paid attention to by home-care provides.
Patients who are living with Alzheimer's or other forms of neurological diseases usually have to live with incontinence.
As the brain functions; when the neurotransmitters that are responsible for sending the messages from the brain to the bladder and bowel malfunctions, then the patient may lose the ability to recognize where to go to use the bathroom.
They also may feel the sensation, but is not able to make a dash to the nearest bathroom, or there may not be any one available at the time to assist with bathroom concerns, therefore the patient has no other choice, but to relieve him or herself in place.
Incontinence Care
It is important that, as you care for patients at home, that a bathroom schedule be put in place. This way consistency is introduced into the patient’s daily bathroom activities.
If the patient is bed bound,then he or she is usually checked, changed and re-positioned. This is usually done according to the appropriate input output schedule.
If the client is completely incontinent, but is not bed bound, he or she is usually unable to let you know that there is an urgency to use the bathroom. Therefore special attention should be placed on introducing a bathroom assist schedule.
It is also very helpful that an input and output record is kept, just so you may have information as needed, about urinary output and fluid intake, for attending nurse or physician. It is also a way to stay in touch with the patient’s intake and output habits. Also hydration management, as well as bathroom visit frequencies.
HOW OFTEN DOES YOUR PATIENT uses the bathroom in a day? (ENCOURAGED)
IS THE PATIENT LEFT ALONE TO USE THE BATHROOM IN his or her UNDERPANTS?
Incontinence Concerns
Some of the main concerns that may arise from unsupervised incontinence are; rashes, skin redness, bruises and unpleasant odors.
Skin irritations usually leads to skin breakdown.
If skin irritations occur, a frequent body check should always be done, and the necessary care be given in order to keep the skin intact.
Patients should be encouraged to use the bathroom as long as he or she is not bed-bound.
Overall, consistency on every aspect of the patient wake up, go to bed, input, output and bathroom assist schedule should be taken extremely seriously, in order to avoid unnecessary skin irritation, breakdown and unpleasant odors. Maintaining excellent incontinence care, is maintaining a great quality of life.