Sudden changes in behavior such as sudden outbursts, continually having to go to the bathroom, holding their stomach or stating that their stomach hurts, or a drastic decline in mental function could be indicators that your loved one has a urinary tract infection (UTI). As early onset Alzheimer’s disease progresses and your loved one becomes incontinent, the chances for a UTI increase dramatically.
Your loved one may not be able to express their discomfort, so it is important to understand the signs of a UTI:
- Urgent need to urinate
- Urine that looks cloudy and/or dark (very dark yellow or brownish in color)
- Urine that has a strong odor or contains blood
- Burning or pain when urinating
- Fatigue
- Pain, pressure or discomfort in the lower abdomen, back or sides
As your loved one may not be able to verbalize their pain and discomfort, watch for visual cues such as:
- Holding their stomach or back
- Pulling at their clothes
- Facial expressions or moaning
If you suspect your loved one has a UTI, don’t wait to see if it gets better. Call your doctor right away. UTIs are very hard on people with Alzheimer’s. Confusion and agitation increase due to the infection, so you need to get them treatment right away. Your doctor will collect a urine sample and possibly perform other tests to determine the diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
There are steps to take that can help reduce the occurrence of a UTI:
- Have your loved one drink plenty of fluids. It is very easy for the person with early onset Alzheimer’s to become dehydrated, especially in the mid to late stages of the disease. As their care partner, don’t wait for them to ask for something to drink. Give them 6-8 glasses of water or beverage that they like (not alcohol).
- Offer the liquids frequently, as it will help keep them hydrated.
- Cranberry juice has been shown to help reduce UTIs.
- Fruits, vegetables and foods high in fiber can help prevent constipation, another cause of UTIs.
- As previously discussed, set a bathroom routine of every 2 hours. This helps keep the bladder empty, preventing your loved one from holding their urine for long periods of time.
- Keep a clear path to the bathroom.
- Good hygiene. As bathing becomes a difficult activity, it becomes more important to keep your loved one’s genital area clean. Have a supply of baby wipes next to each toilet in the house. You can use these wipes to clean the genital area each time they use the bathroom.
- If your loved one is using adult incontinence products, make sure they are changed regularly and the genital area is cleaned with baby wipes every time the product is changed.