3 Simple Tips for Reducing UTIs
We’ve all heard the stories of someone who fell, broke something, went to the hospital, had surgery, went to a nursing home for rehab, and was never quite the same after that. Sound familiar?
What if I told you, there is a good chance that whole chain of events could have started from a Urinary Tract Infection or UTI?
UTIs are extremely common among elderly in America, especially among women.
UTIs can lead to falls, hospital visits, hallucinations, an overall decline in health, and more. UTIs are to be avoided at all costs.
The good news is that there are some simple things we can do to prevent or reduce UTIs from happening.
#1 - Increase Fluids
Problem:
Many elderly people simply do not drink enough fluids. They rarely get thirsty nor think about drinking like they used to. Their fluid intake often decreases greatly as their age progresses. The lack of flow of liquids through the body increases the risk for UTIs to occur.
Solution:
Keep a cup of liquids always near your elderly loved one. Remind them to drink throughout the day. Make it easier by keeping their favorite drinks stocked and ready to go. When it comes to UTI prevention, even drinking a soda can be better than refusing to drink water. Get those bodily fluids moving!
#2 - Increase Movement
Problem:
Many elderly people do not move as much as their body needs. This is especially true for homebound folks and those that spend most of their days sitting. The less someone moves, the more likely they are to develop a UTI.
Solution:
Any movement is good movement. A walk down the street is great. A walk to the mailbox is great. Getting up from the chair every 2 hours to walk in the house is better than sitting all day. Arm raises, leg raises, or any kind of exercise is a help.
The more movement the better. Even those confined to a wheelchair or bed can increase their movement. Do what you can to help your loved one get more movement. It will pay dividends for their health.
#3 - Clean Private Parts Well
Problem:
Sometimes our elderly believe they are cleaning well, but simply are not. As elderly people age, sometimes their bathing routine becomes less frequent and/or less thorough. Many begin to neglect their hygiene without even realizing it. This problem is more significant in women than men. Women sometimes fail to cleanse their private parts as thoroughly as needed. This can lead to the rise of UTIs.
Solution:
Get some oversight on their hygiene. How often are they truly bathing, not just words? Are you or someone else able to observe how well they are cleansing themselves?
Reminders are a great starting point to encourage your loved one to bathe on a regular basis. Reminders to clean their private parts thoroughly are another good step to take. In some situations, outside help might be required to have someone assist with bathing if they are no longer able to do a good job.
—
Being proactive to keep UTIs at bay is well worth the effort. As a bonus, you can also mix in some cranberry juice to their liquids. This is an age old remedy that helps with UTIs.
We hope this helps and we are here if you would like to talk further about it or have any other questions. Best wishes to you!
