Taking care of an elderly adult means making sure their health stays as stable as possible. One of the most common health issues in elderly adults is UTI’s. Urinary tract infections can cause all sorts of symptoms in your elderly loved one. Knowing more about how to reduce the risk of UTI’s in elderly adults can help you to keep your loved one safer and healthier.
Fluid Intake
It is very important that you or your loved one’s caregivers monitor their fluid intake. You want to make sure that your elderly loved one is taking in at least 6 to 8 glasses of water every day. Regularly drinking this much water can help to prevent UTI’s from occurring in the first place. It can help to make sure your loved one always has a bottle of water at their side. They can keep one on their nightstand for the morning, on the kitchen table, and on the stand near their chair in the living room.
Regular Use of the Bathroom
Another common reason for UTI’s is that the person doesn’t use the bathroom enough. Holding it in can cause increased irritation in the urinary tract, leading to infection. If you are caring for your elderly loved one, you should encourage them to go to the bathroom many times a day. They should be using the bathroom about every 2 to 3 hours. If they have home care services providers who are also taking care of them, remind the caregivers to encourage them to use the bathroom often, too.
Avoiding Constipation
Constipation can stop the bladder from emptying all the way, leading to a urinary tract infection. It is important that you help your elderly loved one to prevent constipation. There are many fiber-filled foods that can help with this. Making sure that your elderly loved one is drinking enough water can help with this, as well. Exercising can help with the prevention of constipation.
Good Hygiene
Lastly, it is essential that your loved one is practicing good hygiene. They should be washing their genitals a minimum of once each day to properly prevent urinary tract infections. They might need to be reminded to shower if they have dementia or if they don’t take great care of their personal hygiene for any other reason.
These are some of the tips for reducing the risk of urinary tract infections in elderly adults. If you are caring for your elderly loved one or they have home care services providers, be sure to encourage them to use these tips.
Sources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353447
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9135-urinary-tract-infections/prevention