A UTI, also known as a bladder infection or a urinary tract infection, is a serious situation for your senior. You need to be able to spot the signs of a UTI for your elderly family member so that you can get her to her doctor quickly. Proper hydration and a strong immune system can help to prevent UTIs, but her doctor can give you personalized tips for your senior’s situation.
Lots of Visits to the Bathroom
If your elderly family member is suddenly going to the bathroom more often than she usually does, that’s definitely a sign that something new might be going on. She could be drinking more water, so another question or two might be in order. Those new visits ideally should be productive. If your additional questioning determines that those visits aren’t doing more than creating anxiety for your senior, there are bigger problems.
Pain in the Bladder and While Urinating
While your elderly family member is in the bathroom, and even when she isn’t, it’s important to ask her what she’s feeling. If she’s experiencing a lot of pressure or pain in her bladder or while urinating, that can mean that she’s dealing with an infection of some sort. It’s also important to note that pain in the bladder or while urinating isn’t always present with a bladder infection, so you may need to look at other details, too.
Visual Differences in the Urine Itself
Your elderly family member might notice or mention changes in her urine. It might look cloudy if she has a UTI or there might be a pink tinge that can indicate blood in the urine. It’s important that if she is noticing changes that she mention that to her doctor so that tests can give her some answers.
In Serious Infections She May Have a Fever
If your elderly family member has a fever, that’s a definite sign that something isn’t right. She may have a bladder infection or it could have spread and become a kidney infections. A fever is always something that she needs to take seriously, though.
Cognitive Changes and Lots of Confusion
The biggest sign that your elderly family member might have a bladder infection may not be one you correlate with a UTI. If your senior is suddenly confused or is acting differently than she normally does, this can be a symptom of a bladder infection. Older adults may not even have some of the other typical signs of a bladder issue, but may start to have memory trouble or develop confusion and other mood issues.
If you’re noticing anything different about your senior’s health or mood, it’s a good idea to talk to her doctor. And if bladder infections are becoming much more common for your senior, having elderly care providers available can help you to spot the signs more quickly while also having insight into what your senior is eating and drinking.
If you or an aging loved one is considering elderly care in Lone Tree, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare today at 303-953-9924.
