Urinary tract infections, incontinence, and frequent nighttime urination are all common bladder health issues among seniors. Yet bladder health remains a sensitive, if not embarrassing, conversation for most people.
Aging can cause changes to your bladder that can lead to several common bladder control concerns. Fortunately, many of these health conditions can be treated and sometimes prevented. Find out when to seek medical attention and how to support bladder health for seniors at home.
Why Bladder Health Matters More as We Age
The bladder is an organ that sits in your lower abdomen and holds your urine until you are ready to urinate. The muscles surrounding your bladder and the urethra (the tube that passes urine out of your body) work together, allowing you to control when you urinate.
As you age, these muscles may become weaker, which can cause several conditions related to bladder control. You may have leaking, not be able to hold it as long as you used to, or have to urinate more frequently or urgently.
Improper bladder emptying and incontinence (unintentionally urinating) can lead to:
- Increases in urinary tract infections
- Frequent night urination (nocturia)
- Becoming dehydrated
- Social embarrassment
- Avoiding physical activities
- Feelings of shame
Bladder health can be made worse by medications that affect bladder control, weakened muscles, or diseases such as Parkinson’s, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. Senior men may develop an enlarged prostate gland, which is a common cause of incontinence.
It’s important that you don’t wait until bladder problems turn into an emergency. Seeking medical attention when you first notice symptoms can save you from serious developments and damage.
Common Bladder Health Issues in Seniors
Bladder health issues can be grouped into five overarching categories. Knowing what type of bladder health conditions you or your loved one may be facing can help you and your doctor find a solution.
1. Urinary Incontinence
Accidental leakage of urine is often the hardest symptom to bring up with your doctor or loved one. There may be attempts to hide or deny incontinence. Understandably, there may also be feelings of losing control or feeling like a child.
The four main causes of urinary incontinence are:
- Stress Incontinence: Leakage of urine when sneezing, laughing, coughing, lifting heavy objects, or running
- Urge Incontinence: Not having enough time between feeling a need to urinate and reaching the toilet
- Overflow Incontinence: Small amounts of urine that leak from an always-full bladder
- Functional Incontinence: When it is physically or mentally difficult to make it to the toilet
2. Overactive Bladder
An overactive bladder is characterized by frequent or unexpected urination. If you experience these symptoms, you should consult a healthcare provider:
- Urinating eight or more times during the day, or two or more times at night
- A very sudden and strong urge to urinate
- Urine leaks out as soon as you feel the urge to urinate
An overactive bladder can affect your desire to venture outside your home, and you may feel exhausted from not getting enough sleep at night.
3. Urinary Retention
If you can’t start a stream of urine or completely empty your bladder, you may be experiencing urinary retention. It can affect all ages and people, but it’s commonly an issue among older men with prostate enlargement, diabetes, and certain neurological disorders, like multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s.
Urinary retention can also stem from nervous system disorders, spinal cord damage, spastic pelvic muscles, scarring in the urethra, or side effects of surgery.
Symptoms are similar to other urinary afflictions and should prompt a visit to a healthcare professional:
- A weak urine stream
- Burning or pain with urination
- Frequent or sudden need to urinate
- Cloudy urine
- An inability to pass urine
4. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
A urinary tract infection can be caused by bacteria entering your urinary tract and growing there. Seniors may be more prone to UTIs because of a weakened immune system, not fully emptying the bladder, having a catheter following other medical procedures, or an inability to maintain proper hygiene.
Women are four times more likely to have UTIs. Diseases such as diabetes and spinal cord injuries also increase your risk.
Symptoms of a UTI include:
- Burning during urination
- Frequent urges to urinate
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
In seniors, a UTI can also include:
- Confusion
- Fever
- Tiredness
- Nausea
It’s important to get medical attention any time you have UTI symptoms. They don’t have to be chronic to require treatment.
5. Kidney Infections
An untreated UTI can leave you vulnerable to bacteria traveling up into the kidneys, causing a kidney infection.
A kidney infection must be treated immediately to prevent permanent damage to the kidneys. Symptoms are similar to a urinary tract infection, but can also include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Nausea and vomiting
- Increased pain
- Back, side, or groin pain
- Blood in the urine
When to See a Doctor: Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
The private nature of bladder concerns can make you reluctant to mention them to a loved one or your doctor. But if left untreated, these bladder conditions can cause more severe bladder diseases.
See a medical professional immediately if you or your loved one has any of the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Back or side pain
- Vomiting
- Blood in your urine
- Sudden confusion
- Shaking chills
Supporting Better Bladder Health at Home
Achieving optimal bladder health can involve more than just seeing your doctor for treatment. There are strategies that may improve your bladder health and prevent problems in the future.
Foods That May Help
Researchers haven’t found evidence that any particular dietary changes can treat or prevent bladder infections or incontinence. However, eating certain foods can promote better hydration and reduce inflammation, which can be good for bladder health:
- Hydrating foods like cucumbers and watermelon
- Foods like berries and leafy greens that reduce inflammation in the body
- Magnesium-rich foods, such as bananas, avocados, and whole grains, that promote muscle function and better sleep
If you have dietary restrictions, check with your healthcare provider to make sure those foods are safe for you first.
Supplements and Herbal Support
Your pharmacist, a nurse practitioner, or other medical professional may be able to advise you on the potential benefits of herbal supplements such as:
- Cranberry extract to treat minor UTIs
- D-mannose to prevent recurring UTIs
- Garlic for potentially treating and preventing recurring UTIs
Lifestyle Tips
In some cases, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes to improve bladder control and decrease the frequency of incontinence and infections. For example:
- Pelvic Floor Therapy: Pelvic floor exercises can strengthen the muscles that control the release of urine. Your doctor may refer you to a pelvic floor physical therapist to help strengthen your pelvic floor.
- Bladder Training: This may involve scheduling regular times to urinate and gradually increasing the time between trips to the bathroom.
- Dietary Changes: Help your bladder by avoiding or limiting foods that can irritate it, such as caffeine, alcohol, or spicy foods.
- Hydration: Stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day.
- Breathable Underwear: Wear loose-fitting cotton underwear to allow airflow and change underwear or incontinence pads as soon as they are wet.
- Clean Thoroughly: Keep the area between your genitals and bottom clean and dry to help prevent irritation or infection. Consider the use of a bidet or a perineal bottle to clean after voiding or having a stool, and wipe front to back if you are a woman.
- Take Your Time: Don’t rush—take time to completely empty your bladder when you urinate.
How In-Home Caregivers Can Help Seniors with Bladder Health
Bladder health can be a sensitive topic, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. A professional in-home caregiver can provide gentle, respectful support, helping to both prevent infections and manage incontinence. By looking out for the early signs of infection or dehydration and helping you or your loved one seek treatment when it’s needed, a caregiver can be an empathetic team member of your family’s care team.
Symptoms can be managed through the use of fluid tracking, regular bathroom reminders, and the appropriate use of incontinence products. A caregiver can also offer companionship and support that reduces embarrassment.
Family and professional caregivers are an important piece of the puzzle, helping preserve physical health and emotional well-being.
BrightStar Care Prioritizes All Aspects of Senior Health
Even though bathroom habits aren’t something we typically like to discuss in company, bladder health is an important part of overall wellness. A healthy bladder and an open conversation with your healthcare provider can help prevent infections, preserve your dignity, and allow you to continue to enjoy a satisfying quality of life.
BrightStar Care® caregivers are dedicated to meeting your needs with dignity and respect. Whether you're looking for in-home care services or a reliable medical staffing partner for your organization, our experienced local care team members are ready to help. Find a location near you, contact us online, or call (866) 618-7827 to learn more about how BrightStar Care offers A Higher Standard®.