Incontinence is the inability to control one's
own urinary functions. People who are incontinent urinate on themselves
before they get to a toilet. Nationally, more than 60% of all nursing
home residents are incontinent. Unfortunately, incontinence is
often ignored because it is considered a normal consequence of
aging. But it isn't. Most incontinence can be managed or treated.
Many treatable problems contribute to incontinence.
Some residents have several coexisting problems that contribute
to the problem. Both must be treated, or the incontinence will
persist. Untreated incontinence also increases the risk of pressure
sores.
Recognizing the need to urinate is one of the
last neurological sensations to be lost in mentally confused residents.
More often than not, incontinence is really a problem of communication.
Mentally confused residents may not be able to convey the need
to use the bathroom except through extreme behavior, such as screaming,
pulling at clothing, and disrobing. The resident will likely calm
down after he or she has urinated or after any wet clothing has
been changed.
There are several types of urinary incontinence,
caused by mental or medical conditions. Stress incontinence is
most common in women. The urethral sphincter fails to hold urine
because of increased pressure, caused by having multiple children,
muscle weakness, and aging. Residents with stress incontinence
inadvertently leak when they laugh, cough, sneeze, change position,
stand, lift or engage in some other physical activity.
Overflow incontinence is commonly seen in males
with prostrate problems and all residents with neurological problems.
Functional incontinence results from the physical or mental inability
to urinate. Restraints or the inability to get a toilet affect
the physical ability, while lack of communication skills affect
the mental ability. The resident may show signs of urge incontinence.
Unconscious, or reflux, incontinence is a neurological dysfunction.
The resident may not be aware of the need to urinate, depending
on the cause of the problem. The resident is frequently or continuously
incontinent, and may experience severe urgency and bladder hypersensitivity.
Staff members in long term care facilities are
often not very sympathetic when dealing with a resident's incontinence
problems, and they may feel it is futile to try to combat it. But
they can. In some cases, problems may be corrected simply by treating
the underlying problem, and possibly retraining or managing the
resident's needs. This approach will usually work for incontinence
caused by high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), excess fluid intake,
inadequate fluid intake, volume overload, venous insufficiency
with fluid retention, congestive heart failure, and delirium. Similarly,
incontinence caused by psychological or physical impairments can
be managed by treating the underlying problem and by making sure
toilet facilities are accessible and usable.
Incontinence that is caused by urinary tract infection
usually responds to antibiotic treatment, though retraining may
still be necessary after the infection is cleared up. If fecal
impaction is leading to incontinence, remove the impaction. Then
regularly use stool softeners and bulk forming agents, increase
the fluids and fiber in the resident's diet, and encourage or assist
him or her to get adequate exercise.
If a loved is in a nursing home and you feel that
have been abused or neglected, please contact The Rasansky Law
Firm immediately to discuss your legal rights and options regarding
your loved one in a nursing home.
For more information about Nursing Home Claims,
you can also visit www.nursinghomelawyer.com,
a Rasansky Law Firm speciality site devoted exclusively to Nursing
Home Claims, Nursing Home Abuse, Nursing Home Neglect, and Nursing
Home Rights.
Signs that a Loved
One In A Nursing Home could be in trouble include Behavioral
Problems, Changes In Physical
Conditions, Dehydration, and Immobility to
name a few.
