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Many people living with dementia experience bladder and or bowel incontinence. This can be distressing for the person with dementia and those who care for them.
Continence can be such a taboo subject and it can feel embarrassing to talk about it within the family. Sometimes it’s worth involving a professional such as your GP or your local continence service to start a conversation and to find ways to manage issues. Victoria McGrath, Dementia Specialist
Continence care can be a difficult topic to talk about. However, there are ways you can support the person you are caring for to maintain their continence for as long as possible. You can also eliminate and minimise problems and potentially difficult situations.
There are different types of continence problems affecting either the bladder or the bowel. There are many reasons why someone with dementia may find it hard to maintain continence.
Find out more about different types of continence problems and possible causes
The move from supporting with personal care to providing intimate care can affect your wellbeing and have emotional and psychological impact on your relationship with the person you care for.
Find out more about how continence care can affect your wellbeing and relationshipsSpecialist support is available. The first step is usually for your GP to refer the person you’re caring for to your local continence service for an assessment.
This will normally be after your GP has carried out some health checks to see if there are any bladder or bowel problems which might be treatable or reversible. Victoria McGrath, Dementia Specialist
lf possible, be present with your loved one when the assessment takes place.
It can be helpful prior to assessment if you can record frequency and intensity of the problems and also document what works and what doesn’t.
A continence assessment can identify different options to help manage continence issues.
Provision of products varies across the country, but there are a range of products that can help. These include:
Many people will be aware of catheters.
However, indwelling catheters should not be the first or a long term choice. They should only be used for medical purposes such as relieving urinary retention and they should not be used for the convenience of any carers. Long term use can lead to health complications.
In terms of assisted technology, there are devices to detect moisture and movement.
It’s important to be given training on how to use continence products correctly to ensure they work efficiently. Victoria McGrath, Dementia Specialist
Environmental adaptations at home can vary in cost from minimal, such as getting a raised toilet seat to help someone with mobility issues, to more expensive refurbishments.
If you are out, look for subtle signs of the person wanting the toilet and guide them to the door. They are likely to struggle more in unfamiliar environments.
All carers are entitled to a Carer’s Assessment to make sure that your own needs are identified and addressed. This includes whether you are getting enough rest and support.
Managing continence care can be exhausting. If you’ve not had a Carer’s Assessment, you can request one through your local authority.
If you need support with this, you can call our Carer Support Line.
Call our Carer Support Line for advice on continence care and how to get in touch with your local continence service.
There are different types of continence problems affecting either the bladder or the bowel. There are many reasons why someone with dementia may find it hard to maintain continence.
The move from supporting with personal care to providing intimate care can affect your wellbeing and have emotional and psychological impact on your relationship with the person you care for.
If you are caring for someone with dementia, you are entitled to an assessment of your own needs for support. Your health and wellbeing matters too.
