Bowel and Bladder Incontinence Frequent Problem with Aging

While this is not a pleasant topic; however, as you might guess, bowel and bladder incontinence is an issue we all will face either ourselves or a loved one or family member. With aging, the problem becomes more significant and is hard for both the person who suffers from it and a caregiver who is helping the person.

John Hopkins Medicine says incontinence is defined as the involuntary leakage of urine from the bladder. Incontinence can affect both men and women in any age group but is more common in women and the elderly. As the population ages, the number of people suffering from bladder control problems is increasing. This problem's costs are personal, physical, and financial, and many with incontinence suffer social embarrassment, isolation, ill-health, and even depression.  

Bowel leakage or fecal incontinence is the inability to control the passage of liquid or solid stool from the rectum. This condition affects 15 percent of all adults in the United States. Because people are embarrassed to talk about their symptoms, many people go untreated. 

Incontinence Happens for Many Reasons

The National Institute on Aging tells us incontinence can happen for many reasons. For example, urinary tract infections, vaginal infection or irritation, constipation, and some medicines can cause bladder control problems that last a short time. When incontinence lasts longer, it may be due to:  

• Weak bladder muscles
• Overactive bladder muscles
• Damage to nerves that control the bladder from diseases such as mul­tiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease
• Blockage from an enlarged prostate in men
• Diseases such as arthritis that may make it difficult to get to the bath­room in time

 Visit NIHSeniorHealth to learn more about the causes of urinary incontinence.

Types of Fecal Incontinence

There are different types of fecal incontinence:  

• Flatal incontinence: the inability to control the passage of gas from the rectum.
• Fecal incontinence: the inability to control the passage of liquid or solid stool from the rectum.
• Double incontinence: the inability to control both the passage of stool and urine.
• Rectovaginal fistula: when a connection develops between the vagina and rectum and results in stool being passed uncontrollably through the vagina.

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Aging has the most significant impact on bowel control in women over the age of 40.

Those in a care situation often suffer from one or both of these issues. Often, this is in addition to other health or age issues that have caused the need for extended care. This isn't easy, especially on family caregivers who are not really prepared emotionally to deal with it.

Treatment Available

There is a treatment that is available which can manage these situations. Depending on what is causing or contributing to fecal incontinence, your health care provider may recommend one or more of the following:  

• changes in diet
• medications
• pelvic floor muscle exercises
• "bowel training"
• surgery
• other therapies 

or a combination of the above may manage the situation.

Bladder Problems

The National Institute on Aging says there are more treatments for urinary incontinence than ever before. The choice of treatment depends on the type of bladder control problem you have, how serious it is, and what best fits your lifestyle. As a general rule, the simplest and safest treatments should be tried first.

Bladder control training may help you get better control of your bladder. Your doctor may suggest you try the following:  

• Pelvic muscle exercises (also known as Kegel exercises) work the muscles that you use to stop urinating. Making these muscles stronger helps you hold urine in your bladder longer.
• Biofeedback uses sensors to make you aware of signals from your body. This may help you regain control over the muscles in your bladder and urethra. Biofeedback can be helpful when learning pelvic muscle exercises.
• Timed voiding may help you control your bladder. In timed voiding, you urinate on a set schedule, for example, every hour. You can slowly extend the time between bathroom trips. When timed voiding is combined with biofeedback and pelvic muscle exercises, you may find it easier to control urge and overflow incontinence.
• Lifestyle changes may help with incontinence. You may benefit from: losing weight, quitting smoking, saying "no" to alcohol, drinking less caffeine (found in coffee, tea, and many sodas), preventing constipation, and avoiding heavy lifting. 

People with a number of health issues, including MS and those in the latter stages of Alzheimer's disease, often have urinary and fecal incontinence problems. This can result from not realizing they need to urinate, forgetting to go to the bathroom, or not being able to find the toilet.

Before retirement and any health issues that may arise, advance planning will help provide for quality care and ease the burden this creates on family members. 

Incontinence and bowel and bladder issues impact your activities of daily living. The cost of long-term care is not generally covered by health insurance or Medicare. Affordable Long-Term Care Insurance will safeguard your savings and ease the burdens placed on family members when these problems arise.

The fact is the consequences of long-term care will impact you, your family, your savings, and your lifestyle. An advance plan addressing the financial costs and burdens of aging will add peace-of-mind for both you and your family. Act before you retire.