Question

-- A 78 year-old male is losing bowel and bladder control. What are three effective and acceptable interventions, for each system, for this older adult?

Answer 1

Bowel and bladder incontinence is quite a common symptom encountered by elderly patients. If not adequately managed it leads to poor hygeine and deterioration of quality of life.

Interventions for Bladder Incontinence

1) Pelvic muscle exercises : strengthening the pelvic muscles helps to reduce urinary incontinence.

2) Timed voiding : Regular timed voiding for example every 2 hours based on a schedule helps to reduce urinary Incontinence.

3) Lifestyle modification : include avoiding Alcohol, smoking, caffeine, Constipation as well as lifting heavy weight reduced the incidence of urinary Incontinence.

Interventions for Bowel incontinence

1) Dietary changes : Reduce fiber intake , avoid highly caffeinated drinks as well as food stuffs with high fat content like burgers.

2) Pelvic floor muscle training : helps to reduce incontinence by strengthening pelvic floor muscles.

3) Surgical interventions like Sphincteroplasty, Tibial nerve stimulation and sacral nerve stimulation.