In a year’s time, around half of all adults diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease end up at the hospital in need of treatments for UTIs. A healthy adult will recognize the pain and burning of a UTI, but someone with Alzheimer’s isn’t always going to be able to articulate what’s wrong.

Anger, irritation, sudden increased confusion, back pain, incontinence, and fever are often the best indicators. You may be able to pinpoint a potential UTI by seeing your mom making more trips to the bathroom than usual or by darker-colored urine, but it’s not always possible. If you suspect it’s possible, seek medical attention for her.

Your mom has Alzheimer’s and has had her first UTI. It’s time to talk about the benefit of hiring personal care aides to help out.

Understand What Causes a UTI

UTIs occur when bacteria are introduced to the urethra. When your mom has Alzheimer’s, it’s often a case of her wiping incorrectly or not wiping at all after using the toilet. Wearing the same dirty underwear for days is another possible cause. If your mom isn’t doing her own laundry regularly, you need to intervene and start making sure she’s wearing clean clothes.

Sometimes, it’s not linked to either of those. Has your mom’s doctor ever brought up having a prolapsed uterus? That also increases the risk of UTIs. Having her drink cranberry juice and lots of water may help.

Prevention of Future UTIs

After one UTI, it’s important to take steps to ensure your mom doesn’t get them repeatedly. Start paying attention to how often she showers. If she’s not showering often enough or doesn’t seem to come out of the shower as wet as you’d think she should, it’s time to start making sure someone helps her with showers.

Dressing assistance is also important. You can make sure she has clean clothing and isn’t taking items from the laundry hamper. If you have to move the hamper to an area she doesn’t frequent, do that to ensure she’s not taking out dirty clothes or towels and using them after a shower.

If she’s experiencing incontinence, use bladder control pads to keep the urine from reading her clothing. Let the pad wick it away from her skin. Make sure the pad is changed regularly.

People with dementia do not always drink enough fluids. If your mom isn’t regularly drinking water or unsweetened tea, offer it more often. Track how much she drinks and encourage her to drink enough. Aim for a glass of water or other unsweetened beverage every hour or two.

Personal care at home is important when your mom’s attention to hygiene and grooming is diminishing. Help here avoid frequent UTIs. Arrange personal care at home services for toileting and personal care today.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Personal Care at Home in Spartanburg, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116. Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens, Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding areas.

Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7771809/

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Edward Harrison

Founder at Heart of the Carolinas

Edward Harrison founded the Heart of the Carolinas Homecare in 2007 when he saw there was a need for caregivers that provide non-medical home care services, at a price that most people could afford. It was standard in the industry to require hourly minimums and it was common to be assigned a caregiver, not matched with one based on your individual personal needs. Edward understood that to make a successful relationship between caregiver and client, skills were not enough, personality and compatibility plays as much a role as do skills.

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