Insights from The Orlando Senior Help Desk: Understanding incontinence

A senior’s age, incontinence becomes an all-too-common (but all-too-often ignored) issue. The first step toward dealing with incontinence is understanding exactly what is causing it, and it’s not as straightforward as you might imagine.

Incontinence comes in various forms:

1. Stress Incontinence: Urine loss occurs during activities like lifting heavy objects, laughing, coughing, or exercising.

2. Overflow Incontinence: The bladder doesn’t empty completely, leading to frequent urination or continuous leakage.

3. Urge Incontinence: Difficulty in reaching the bathroom in time, often resulting in accidents, frequent bathroom visits, or nighttime incidents.

4. Mixed Incontinence: A combination of stress and urge incontinence.

If you suspect a loved one is dealing with incontinence:

• Start a conversation about it; many are embarrassed to seek help.

• Consult their primary care physician for guidance and possible treatments.

• Regularly check for soiled undergarments to prevent skin irritation and falls.

• Establish a bathroom schedule to help with bladder retraining.

Certain foods and drinks can irritate the bladder and should be avoided, such as alcohol, carbonated drinks, milk products, coffee, tea, citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, highly spiced foods, sweeteners, chocolate, and artificial sweeteners.

The physical challenges of aging also come with emotional perils like the transition into a senior-living community. For Jewish seniors facing the challenges of transitioning to elder-care communities, Jewish Pavilion Senior Services offers support, cultural connection, and inclusion through room visits, holiday celebrations, and other programs. Visit JewishPavilion.org for more information.

Likewise, the Orlando Senior Help Desk (407-678-9363) assists caregivers and seniors with navigating elder-care issues, offering guidance and support. Visit OrlandoSeniorHelpDesk.org for assistance.