Medicaid Coverage Of Incontinence Supplies For Low Income Individuals And Families
Heres something awesome about Medicaid: most programs cover incontinence supplies for low income individuals and families. There are currently 45 states whose Medicaid programs offer some form of coverage.
Medicaid offers two major advantages for getting incontinence supplies for low income individuals and families:
Best For Women: Tena Intimates Overnight Absorbency Incontinence Pads
Theres a slew of protective pads designed for women with incontinence that are comfortable, made to be invisible under clothing, or at times are built into underwear. While experts stress that these pads arent a long-term solution, they can help you get back to your active lifestyle without fear of leaks. Its great that the industry is catching up and making pads that are not only easier to use, but you dont feel like youre going to stick out as if youre wearing a diaper, Dr. DuBeau said. She says for women its important to make sure that incontinence pads dont lead to irritation or yeast infections.
These TENA pads are heavy-duty and designed to protect against moderate to heavy bladder leakage. Theyre 16 inches long and have a wide back design to make sure you stay covered while laying down and are thin so they wont be bulky and noticeable. These pads have a pH-balanced system to prevent odors and super-absorbent microbeads to suck in moisture, all while being topped with a skin-soft sheet to keep you fresh. This brand offers a variety of pads with different absorbency levels, and these have the greatest absorbency power.
These briefs come in multiple colors, are breathable, and are made of a premium cotton-like fabric to be soft and comfortable to the touch. One pack comes with 10 briefs.
Management Of Urinary Incontinence In The Elderly
Management of urinary incontinence in the elderly is possible and can help seniors remain active.
While common in senior loved ones, urinary incontinence is a challenging condition to handle, impacting everyday life in a variety of ways and frequently leading to reduced self-confidence and assurance in addition to the limiting of enjoyable activities.
However, it is important to realize that urinary incontinence is not something that has to simply be accepted as an ordinary part of aging. Figuring out the root cause of the problem can result in a highly effective treatment option. Contributing factors to bladder control problems include:
- A urinary tract or vaginal infection
- Constipation
- Weakened or overactive bladder muscles
- Pelvic organ prolapse or weakened pelvic floor muscles
- Nerve damage from conditions such as Parkinsons disease, diabetes, or MS
- Enlarged prostate
- Health conditions which make it harder to get to the restroom in time, such as arthritis
An older adult going through difficulties with incontinence should visit with the doctor to talk about symptoms, medications, and medical background. She or he may recommend blood and urine tests as well as testing to figure out how effectively the bladder is emptying. Keeping a daily journal prior to the appointment may help, observing the times of day when urinating and when leaking urine.
When the reason behind the incontinence has been confirmed, treatment plans can include:
Read Also: How Does Bacteria Get Into The Urinary Tract
How Is Incontinence Treated
A treatment plan should be determined only after consultation with your doctor. They will take your age, health, and medical history into consideration and discuss possible treatments based on your tolerance for different kinds of medications and the various therapies available.
Incontinence can be treated in many different ways, including dietary changes, behavioral therapies, medicine regimens, pelvic muscle re-education, in-office procedures, and surgery.
Dietary Changes: Your doctor may recommend eliminating bladder irritants, such as alcohol, caffeine, and citrus fruits.
Behavioral Therapies: Common therapies include bladder training and toileting assistance. Bladder training techniques teach you how to resist the urge to urinate and gradually lengthen the duration between urinating. Toileting assistance uses schedules and habits to prompt you to urinate regularly, thus preventing leakage.
Medicine Regiments: Your doctor may prescribe anticholinergic medications. These work by blocking the action of acetylcholine, a type of neurotransmitter. Blocking acetylcholine inhibits involuntary muscle movements, and may be prescribed for overactive bladder and incontinence. Be sure to discuss the side effects, particularly for elderly patients. Vaginal estrogen may also be considered to help ease stress incontinence in particular.
Common Incontinence Supplies For Active Seniors
As the human body ages, it will start to show signs of wear and tear, so to speak, and this will cause people to have more physical and biological needs. Efforts must therefore be made to take care of these needs. One of the most common changes that come with aging is incontinence. Incontinence is essentially the loss of the ability of the body to control its leakages of excretory matter. In social situations, if you are not prepared, incontinence would undoubtedly be a cause of embarrassment.
At TerraBella Windsor Lake, we understand this very well, so we would like to introduce you to the wide range of incontinence supplies for older adults. We would like to help individuals avoid potentially awkward situations, so that they may live a more relaxed and comfortable life. Here are the various common incontinence supplies that are available for seniors in the market.
Read Also: Does Cvs Minute Clinic Do Urinary Tract Infections
What To Expect At A Urinary Incontinence Doctors Appointment
Youll almost certainly have the following items to your medical appointment:
- To rule out infection or blood in the urine, a urinalysis is performed.
- Kidney function, calcium, and glucose levels are all checked through blood testing.
- A detailed examination of your medical history
- A comprehensive physical examination, which includes a rectal and pelvic examination for women and a urological examination for men.
- A bladder diary may also be requested at the first session, or a patient may be asked to construct one before the second consultation.
They will most likely write in this journal:
- Drinks they consume and how often they urinate during the day
- How much they urinate, which is recorded using a specific measuring cup placed over the toilet.
- A description of their accidents, as well as the frequency with which they occur.
Treatment For Urinary Incontinence In Women
Luckily, there are a number of different treatment options for urinary incontinence in women. Some of the treatment options include lifestyle changes while more serious cases might call for surgery, but each person is different. To better understand whats going on in your body, your urologist will need to first get a proper diagnosis.
Following your diagnosis, you will work with your urologist to create a treatment plan thats tailored to your needs. Most often, your doctor will recommend starting first with lifestyle changes to try and manage your symptoms. Some of these changes include performing kegel exercises regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, and cutting out caffeine or alcoholboth of which are bladder irritants. During this time, you will also learn how to train your bladder and your doctor will recommend cutting back on liquids prior to going to bed. If you want to avoid any accidents during this time, consider looking into protective underwear or womens urinary incontinence products that can help catch any leaks.
In addition to Kegels, there are additional pelvic muscle rehabilitation techniques that your doctor might recommend. Biofeedback can help you perfect your Kegels and then you can move on to vaginal weight training to take things a step further. Some doctors may also discuss pelvic floor electrical stimulation with you as an option.
Also Check: Best Men’s Urinary Pads
Best For Heavy Leakage: Cardinal Health Reusable Bed Pads
These hospital-grade incontinence pads are a great option for people with heavy leakage who want to rest easily without worrying about ruining their bedding. These pads feature a waterproof moisture barrier to keep the bed and other surfaces dry while the absorbent padded core draws in liquid and locks it away. These pads are a great way to protect bedding and sheets for men, women, kids, or the elderly with urinary problems.
The best part is that these pads are washable and will work time and time again with multiple washes. They also feature a non-slip bottom layer to keep the pad in place throughout the night. This pad is latex-free, lead-free, and made with composite and polyester fabricwhich assures its safe to use on sensitive skin and comfortable for a peaceful sleep.
These briefs are a go-to option among experts for seniors with bladder issues as they offer both daytime and overnight protection. They offer up to eight hours of odor protection, strong leak protection, and re-fastenable tape tabs so they can be adjusted for the perfect fit. They will make sure you stay dry and comfortable thanks to the “SmartCool Breathability” that allows air to circulate.
Incontinence And Alzheimers Disease
People in the later stages of Alzheimers disease often have problems with urinary incontinence. This can be a result of not realizing they need to urinate, forgetting to go to the bathroom, or not being able to find the toilet. To minimize the chance of accidents, the caregiver can:
- Avoid giving drinks like caffeinated coffee, tea, and sodas, which may increase urination. But dont limit water.
- Keep pathways clear and the bathroom clutter-free, with a light on at all times.
- Make sure you provide regular bathroom breaks.
- Supply underwear that is easy to get on and off.
- Use absorbent underclothes for trips away from home.
For more ways to deal with incontinence and other common medical problems in someone with Alzheimers, visit Alzheimers Disease: Common Medical Problems.
Don’t Miss: Urinary Tract Infection Instant Relief
Drugs Stopping Sudden Bladder Muscle Contractions
Six approved antimuscarinic drugs work because they block nerve signals regulating bladder muscle contractions the drugs help to relax the bladder muscle and to decrease urges to void. Several studies have shown that these drugs resolve urinary incontinence in one woman among every eight or nine treated . These drugs include:
- Darifenacin ,
However, these drugs, especially oxybutynin, may cause adverse effects which may include:
For oxybutynin, one out of every 16 women stopped using it because of intolerable side effects.
When researchers compared the benefits and harms across these six different antimuscarinic drugs, they found that although these drugs demonstrate similar benefits, the potential for adverse effects was not the same . Women should discuss with their doctor what adverse effects are the most troubling for them. They can then choose the medication with the least risk for those specific side effects.
Unfortunately, none of the clinical studies evaluated the long-term safety of these antimuscarinic drugs. All drugs were tested in older women . However, we do not know long-term safety of these drugs in real-life geriatric settings. Future research should look at long-term safety in older women who are also taking several medications because of other chronic diseases.
Donât Miss: Womenâs Urinary Tract Problems
Urinary Incontinence Causes And Symptoms
Aging itself does not cause urinary incontinence, but changes that occur with aging can increase the risk of developing urinary incontinence by interfering with a persons ability to control urination. For example, the maximum amount of urine that the bladder can hold decreases. The ability to postpone urination decreases. More urine remains in the bladder after urination , partly due to less effective squeezing of the bladder muscle. In postmenopausal women, the urinary sphincter does not hold back urine in the bladder as effectively, because the decrease in estrogen levels after menopause leads to shortening of the urethra and thinning and fragility of its lining. Also, urine flow through the urethra slows. In men, urine flow through the urethra may be impeded by an enlarged prostate gland, eventually leading to bladder enlargement.
Urinary incontinence has many possible causes. Some causes, such as a bladder infection, a broken hip, or delirium, can bring on incontinence suddenly and abruptly. Other causes, such as an enlarged prostate in men or dementia, gradually interfere with control of urination until incontinence results. Incontinence may resolve and never recur. Alternatively, it may persist, recurring sporadically or, in some cases, frequently.
You May Like: How To Treat E Coli Urinary Tract Infection
Tips & Advice For Choosing The Right Products
Keep in mind that your regular underwear size will not necessarily be the size you should purchase in incontinence underwear. Each product comes with its own sizing chart and recommendations based on your height, weight, level of activity, and current leakage. For some, an incontinence pad or liner may be all that is necessary. For others, their everyday activity level and need for comfort and discretion may mean that a pull-up style brief is the way to go. And for still others, a lack of mobility or overnight issues may make a tabbed diaper the best choice.
Other products that may help ease the amount of work required for caregivers of elderly patients or loved ones include personal care wipes, diaper covers, and underpads for beds.
- *The Illinois Department of Public Health
- **We filtered the results to those that had at least 30 product reviews.
What Dogs Are Most Likely To Have Urinary Incontinence
Middle-aged to older spayed female dogs are very prone to urinary incontinence, commonly caused by lower estrogen levels. The lower estrogen levels make many senior female dogs lose muscle tone in the urethra. Spayed female dogs might also experience urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence.
All dogs become more prone to incontinence as they grow older and move towards their senior years. First signs of incontinence usually appear during middle-age. Different dogs reach middle-age at different times. While bigger dogs are considered middle-aged as young as five years old, smaller dogs reach this stage of their life much later.
Also, some dog breeds are more prone to incontinence, including:
- Cocker spaniels
- Dalmatians
Causes of Incontinence in Older Dogs
Incontinence can happen to any dog, but the medical condition is more prevalent among older dogs. There are various reasons why a dog can become incontinent. Usually, dogs become incontinent when they are sick.
Older dogs can have less control over their bladder due to illnesses such as bladder infections, urinary tract infections or abnormalities, and so on. You must address the problem as soon as you notice it because if left untreated, incontinence can worsen. You know your dogs incontinence problem is worsening when it experiences more urine leaking or when the urine starts irritating your dogs skin.
Read Also: What Can Happen If A Urinary Tract Infection Goes Untreated
Medical Devices: Treatment For Urinary Incontinence In Elderly Females
In addition to medicinal treatments, these medical devices may be prescribed for women:
Urethra insert
This is a tampon-like insert that a woman places in her urethra, usually during activities related to her incontinence episodes, such as exercising. While wearing the insert, youll be able to urinate and have bowel movements. Its a good option for senior women who want to remain active. It can be worn safely for up to eight hours, but just like a tampon, it will need to be changed as directed to avoid health and hygiene issues.
Pessary
This is an intravaginal device, similar to a diaphragm, that supports the bladder. It comes in different sizes. After its placed, it will need to be taken out, inspected, and cleaned by a health care provider every three months. You can purchase a single-use disposable pessary over the counter, but its best to check with your doctor or nurse practitioner to determine which option is best for you.
What Causes Urinary Incontinence In The Elderly
From not drinking enough water to childbirth to a health condition such as diabetes, there are many different reasons behind urinary incontinence.
The following health issues can cause urinary incontinence in both women and men:
- Multiple sclerosis
For men, prostate problems are a common cause of urinary incontinence.
Read Also: How To Improve Urinary Health
What Helps Elderly Incontinence
Although incontinence can happen at any time, it is generally more common in the older adult and elderly.
Loss of bladder control can be for a number of reasons and each individual will benefit from different approaches.
Here are some things that may help you day to day manage your incontinence
- Increasing your fluid intake to up to 2 litres a day.
- Having a high-fibre diet.
What Causes Incontinence
Problems in the urinary system can be caused by aging, illness, or injury. The muscles in and around the bladder and urethra tend to become weaker with age. Weak muscles of the sphincters and pelvis can lead to urinary incontinence because the sphincter muscles cannot remain tight enough to hold urine in the bladder, or the bladder does not have enough support from the pelvic muscles to stay in its proper position. Weak bladder muscles may also result in not being able to empty the bladder completely.
Additionally, incontinence may be caused by medication interactions, vaginal or urinary tract infections, prostate problems and progressive diseases that lead to cognitive and physical decline. Functional incontinence is a type that occurs because of difficulties with toileting due to confusion or physical limitations in getting to the bathroom in time.
Also Check: A Urinary Tract Infection Uti
How Can A Live
If your loved one is experiencing prolonged issues with incontinence, it may be worth considering private live-in care at home. A dedicated caregiver moves into your relatives home and offers a variety of elderly care services, encompassing everything from companion care to dementia care.
Caregivers are highly trained and empathetic, making it easier for families who are struggling to cope with incontinence issues on their own.
When choosing a carer for your loved one, its important to make sure that they will be compatible with your loved one, to ensure the best possible outcome for both parties.
Maintaining dignity in old age, and in the face of incontinence, can be extremely challenging, and it is important that your loved one feels happy and comfortable with their caregiver, as this ensures the most positive outcomes.