Functional incontinence is a condition found in people with diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, where the urge to use the toilet goes unnoticed or is challenging to get to. Treatment includes providing pads or adult diapers, waterproof sheets, and regular diaper changes. It is important to provide compassionate and respectful treatment.
Functional incontinence is a difficult condition that is most often found in people who have diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. Unlike other forms of urinary incontinence in which people have medical conditions affecting the bladder that make it difficult or impossible to hold urine, people with functional incontinence tend to have normally functioning bladders without structural or medical problems. The problem stems from the fact that when the urge to use the toilet occurs, it may go unnoticed, or the difficulty it would take to get to a toilet and take off one’s clothes is so challenging that the person tends to be unsuccessful. In these cases, people are likely to get clothes wet, which creates discomfort, odor, and a higher workload for caretakers.
It is not always clear that there is a cure for functional incontinence. So far, diseases like Alzheimer’s tend to be progressive, resulting in more bladder and bowel injuries as a person progresses to dementia. Similarly, Parkinson’s disease does not always respond to treatment and may not be a disease in which functional incontinence can be fully addressed.
There are some conditions where functional incontinence may respond better to treatment. Some people with extreme depression also suffer from this disease and do not notice or bother to notice when the bladder is full. Depression is a treatable condition and may respond to therapy and medication. Once a person is well, the bout of incontinence can end as well.
While it’s ongoing, functional incontinence is usually best addressed by providing pads or adult diapers that can absorb urine so clothing and bedding doesn’t become soaked or stained. To prevent damage and odors to the mattress, waterproof sheets are also recommended. Supportive care is needed for those with this condition and it should be noted that many people remain aware that they should have reached the bathroom in time. Inflicting guilt and/or being insensitive to a person’s upset about this failure are not good treatment strategies.
If you use any type of diaper, it’s also important to make sure that a person is changed regularly, especially if they also use diapers for bowel movements. Constant exposure of the skin to urine and feces tends to cause rashes and irritations. Especially in older people the skin can break or become infected easily. Regular diaper changes and good hygiene help prevent it.
Functional incontinence can be a challenge for sufferers and caregivers. It might be wise to remember that this is no different than caring for a toilet-trained baby. There is no fault in this condition and it deserves compassionate and respectful treatment.
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