Additional Issues in Toileting
Toileting behavior may require special considerations.
Hygiene behaviors
Waterproofing
furniture
Plan for toileting
during outings |
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In some
cases, patients may experience obsessions with toilet
paper use. Caregivers may limit some access to toilet
paper, if needed, to reduce problems, such as toilets
backing up that may create a hazard and hygiene risk.
Caregivers should also pay attention to their own
personal hygiene, including washing their hands
thoroughly before and after helping patients with
toileting and handling of their clothing and any
products.
Waterproofing bedding and furniture might also be a good
idea. Incontinence pads may be laid out on furniture
to help protect it.
If going
out of the home or facility with a person with dementia
and incontinence, it will be important to plan for
toilet stops. Remember, they may not be able to tell you
when they should
start looking for a bathroom so that they make it in
time.
In
addition, you should be prepared for accidents by
bringing pads and extra clothes.
Caregivers should recognize that each patient may
react differently to incontinence. While some find
it upsetting, others may see it as an integrated
part of their situation. It will require some
education, training, patience, and commitment by
caregivers to support the patient through the
sometimes frustrating process of toileting and
personal hygiene. As dementia progresses to
dependency for care it’s important to have respect
for the patient, while providing as much privacy as
possible and addressing issues in a calm and
matter-of-fact manner. This will help the patient to
not feel guilty or embarrassed, while the avoidance
of scolding or being upset with the patient, and
showing understanding with kind and respectful care,
will remain important to the patient’s dignity.
Resources
Patients and caregivers can engage the support they
may need with several resources. The Family
Caregiver Alliance (https://www.caregiver.org)
connects caregivers with information, support, and
resources/tools to help in managing through a
listing of service organizations and resources. In
addition, there is a database for information on
dementia caregiving programs.
The
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (https://alzfdn.org)
also provides a toll-free helpline manned by social
workers to provide information along with text and
online webchat communication options for educational
and other resources for patients and caregivers.
Also
listed are good sources of information and education
regarding dementia conditions that include care
recommendations. There are a number of organizations
that are dementia-type specific, such as the Lewy
Body Dementia Association and the Association for
Frontotemporal Lobe Degeneration, that can easily be
located through an internet search.