Being a carer comes with many responsibilities; and with that, your top priority must be the well-being of your patients.
Urinary incontinence can significantly impact a person’s confidence and mental health. With issues including embarrassment and involuntary stress, it’s up to the caregiver to ensure their patient gets the help they need.
What Is Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence, also known as an overactive bladder, can affect anyone. The condition is more common in older people, particularly women, and it’s estimated that 1 in 2 of us will be diagnosed with a urological issue at some stage in our lives.
The first signs of incontinence can include problems passing urine, both before and after the urge to go to the toilet. While incontinence is not an inevitable part of ageing, it can be managed and even prevented with effective treatments.
What Are the Two Main Types of Incontinence?
While many people experience occasional incontinence, others may have more frequent occurrences. However, there are two significant forms of incontinence to be aware of:
Stress Incontinence
Stress incontinence is when a person’s bladder leaks when it is put under sudden, extra pressure. Sudden stress can be caused when coughing or when lifting heavy objects.
Urge Incontinence
Urge incontinence can often cause a person to have the sudden and intense need to urinate with no control over it. This form of incontinence can be caused by conditions such as infections or neurological disorders.
How Can a Carer Help with Incontinence?
There are many causes for incontinence, but a continence service assessment can help to establish a plan for both the carer and the patient. The information collected during this assessment includes the patient’s medical history, how often the patient passes urine and the details of their diet and fluid intake.
Carers will also help to treat or manage incontinence depending on the type and cause of the person’s incontinence. They can also help with bladder and toilet training.
Changes to a person’s toilet situation can also be implemented, with aids such as a raised toilet or wall-mounted grab bar, providing support for patients who are particularly unsteady on their feet. It is also important to pay attention to a patient’s toilet patterns, considering how often they urinate to help the carer and doctor assess the severity of the situation.
When to Get Professional Help
If incontinence is causing significant disruption to a patient’s everyday lifestyle and is beginning to affect their mental health, it could be time to see a professional.
By visiting a GP or a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, both the carer and patient can begin to discuss the next steps. A GP will usually ask for a urine sample, which will help to check for problems such as blood in the urine. GPs will also commonly refer the patient to a specialist for extra testing including an ultrasound or urodynamic testing.
How Can Andway Help?
Here at Andway, we offer a range of practical solutions to help manage incontinence. From protective undergarments to PU mattress protectors, our product range includes almost everything you will need to keep incontinence under control.
If you would like more advice on incontinence, contact a member of our team today!
