For older people, loss of bladder or poop control (better known as incontinence) isn’t a strange occurrence. As a caregiver, the responsibility falls on you to manage the waste.
Yes I know, it’s a dirty job but someone has to do it.
The older person in question could be your mother, father, aunt, uncle or a ward you’re professionally assigned to. Whatever the case may be, waste management for seniors is hard work, especially with those who have lost total control of their urination or defacation.
In this article, I will be discussing waste management for seniors. I will also provide some helpful tips on how you can manage such situations better.
Contents
Incontinence In Elders
To properly manage the situation, it is best we first look at some of the common symptoms of incontinence.
Symptoms
- Unintentional leakage of urine or faeces
- Not being able to reach the toilet on time
- Urinating in small amounts many times in a single day
- The need to always get out of bed to pass urine
- Difficulty with starting to urinate
- Experiencing a burning sensation when you urinate
- The feeling that your bladder isn’t empty, even after you just urinated
- Chronic constipation
If you experience any of these symptoms, then you should talk to your doctor or a continence expert.
How To Prevent Incontinence
Below are some useful tips –
Drink Lots Of Fluids
Medical science has shown that dehydration can lead to bladder irritation and constipation. To avoid this, you need to consume plenty of fluids.
Do not wait until you are thirsty before you drink some water. It is also advisable to drink at least 2 liters of water daily, that’s about 8 glasses.
When the weather is hot, you should drink more water than usual. You could also take regular sips of water (small amounts) all through the day.
The best way to stay hydrated is with water, although fruit juice and soups are also a good way.
Carbonated drinks can irritate the bladder, you should avoid these drinks. Stay off coffee and alcohol.
The color of your urine can help you tell if you’re properly hydrated. Dark yellow urine usually means you lack fluids.
Eat Foods That Are High In Fiber
High fiber foods can help you maintain proper bowel movement. Dietary fiber is not digested, this adds bulk to your stool and reduces constipation.
Poor diets can lead to chronic constipation, which promotes faecal incontinence.
Foods that are high in fiber include –
- Whole grain cereals
- Fruits and vegetables
You can have about 20-30g of fiber everyday.
Doing Exercises
Exercise can stimulate the muscular activities of the bowels, thereby preventing constipation.
When you exercise, you maintain a good body weight, this in turn eases off the pressure on your pelvic floor.
Physical activities you can engage in include –
- Walking for 30 minutes everyday
- Squatting
- Cycling
Practice Good Toilet Habits
Practicing good toilet habits can also help you fight incontinence.
Go to urinate only when your bladder is full, if you make it a habit to urinate when there is no need to, you will program your bladder to go off whether it is full or not.
You should also allow your urine to flow at its own speed, do not force out the urine.
Another thing to remember is, do not strain to open your bowels. Regular straining can lead to swollen veins in the anus. It can also weaken the muscles of your pelvic floor.
Lastly, always maintain a good posture when you sit on the toilet bowl. Place your elbows on your knees, loosen up your stomach and straighten your back. This promotes free flow.
Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle
Eating the right foods and working out can help prevent incontinence. Stay away from cigarettes too, a chronic cough caused by smoking can also weaken the pelvic floor.
Items You Need to Manage Elderly Incontinence
An accident is an accident, and when it happens it has to be cleaned up.
Here are a few items you will need for this –
Gloves – Always put on a pair of gloves when cleaning up accidents. For the sake of hygiene and a less unpleasant experience.
Gowns – To avoid smudges on your clothes, you can put on a synthetic gown that covers you up from your neck to your feet.
Cleaning up liquid – After you’ve scooped up the mess, you need to wipe off the floors with some cleaning liquid. If the accident happens on a chair or bed, then a dissolvent cleaning spray can be used.
Hand sanitizer – Always have this around, use it when you are done cleaning up.
Using Portable Commodes
A portable commode is a moveable toilet usually meant for elderly people who can’t move quick enough to get to the toilet, or are not strong enough to make the trip.
They do not use running water, it has a bucket or container installed underneath to collect waste, which the caregiver would later dispose of.
They look like chairs with toilet seats and they are a great tool for elders who suffer from incontinence.
Using a portable commode toilet can save you the stress of cleaning up accidents on the floor.
You can ask a friend to recommend a good commode for elderly, or search for one online.
Advantages Of Using Portable Commodes
Using portable commodes come with several advantages, some of which are –
- They are convenient
- Easy to use
- They are not expensive
- It reduces the caregiver’s workload. Instead of cleaning, the caregiver simply has to remove the container and dispose the waste
- They are easy to move from one room to another, especially the ones designed with tyres
You can teach your loved one how to use the commode, and how his/her sitting position should be. This will help them sit properly and not lose balance while they are seated, or trying to get up from it.
Conclusion
Different factors can cause waste accidents in the life of an elder, incontinence is a very common factor. In some cases it could be weakness of the bones and an inability to get to the toilet on time.
Hope the tips I’ve given on the prevention of incontinence and the use of portable commodes have been of help.
Take care!