Question

Case Scenario:

Mrs. P is an 80-year-old retired school teacher who receives visits from a nursing agency for congestive heart failure. Mrs. P was diagnosed with dementia 4 years ago. She lives with her daughter, who is also her caregiver. In addition to dementia. Mrs. P has macular degeneration. She is blind at her left eye and has significantly impaired vision in her right, she fell and fractured her left hip 1 year ago. She walks with the assistance of a walker. She has a moderate amount of ankle and foot edema bilaterally. She always suffered from frequent constipation. Her current medication include; hydrochlorothiazide, a calcium channel blocker and a stool softener, Mrs. P is able to get in and out bed by herself but requires assistance with all other ADLs. She has been incontinent of urine for 2 years.Mrs. P voids but leaks urine before she gets to the bathroom. Mrs. P wears incontinence undergarments. She also has enuresis and usually wet in the morning

1. Enumerate and describe each different types of urinary incontinence.

2. What is the common cause of urinary incontinence of Mrs.P?

3. How can you stop incontinence in older adult?

4. Is incontinence a normal part of aging, explain?

Answer 1

1. Types of Urinary Incontinence

• Functional Incontinence : Due to the improper functioning of body organs or simply physical or mental illness can cause the leakage of urine before one unbottons the pant.
• Stress Incontinence : It is a condition where urine leaks when excess pressure is applied on urinary bladder by coughing, excess laughing, lifting something heavy.
• Urge Incontinence : after an Involuntary loss of urine one may feel like intense urge to urinate, this is because of some minor infections and some major conditions like diabetes, neurological disorder.
• Overflow Incontinence : when bladder doesn't completely one experience frequent urge to urinate.

2.The cause of Urinary Incontinence of Mrs. P are constipation, aging.

Some of the nerves of rectum and urinary bladder are same, the frequency of urine increases when stool is harder, because the rectum makes the shared nerves overactive.

As one gets older the strength of bladder nd its capacity to store urine decreases. Thus, one can experience frequent urine leakage.

3. Incontinence in older adults can be prevented by :

• Maintaining a healthy weight.
• Consuming fiber rich food that can prevent constipation.
• Practising certain exercises.
• Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, acidic foods that irritates urinary bladder.
• Avoid smoking.

4. By the increasing age, the strength and capacity of Urinary bladder to store urine decreases and strength of urethra decreases. Thereby increases the chances of Involuntary urinary release frequently.