Caregiver in Apex NC

As a family caregiver it is one of your most important priorities to help your senior stay as safe and healthy as possible. Part of this is recognizing the risks that they face and understanding how to handle them effectively and efficiently so that you can always make the care decisions that are right for your parent and their needs.

One risk that your elderly parent faces that is very important for you to understand is a urinary tract infection. Though generally mild in younger people, this type of infection can lead to serious consequences for an elderly adult. Seniors tend to have immune systems that are less effective than those of younger people. This means that they are more vulnerable to contracting an illness or infection, and once they do contract such an issue it is more difficult for their body to fight it off. When they are suffering such a concern their immune system is further compromised, making them even more vulnerable. This makes it critical for you to understand the risks for infection and take proper steps to protect your senior.

A urinary tract infection can impact any element of your parent’s urinary tract. This can include the bladder, the kidneys, the ureters, or the urethra. In most UTIs, the infection occurs in the lower portion of the urinary tract, which includes the urethra and the bladder. Though women are far more likely to develop such an infection, men can and do develop urinary tract infections. This makes it essential that if you are caring for an elderly man and you notice the symptoms of a UTI you do not discount the possibility that they are suffering such an infection.

In most cases, the infection is relatively mild, though it can cause very uncomfortable symptoms including pain, stinging, pressure, and urinary urgency. If not treated or managed properly, however, it can spread and infect the kidneys, which can become extremely serious. It is very important that if you notice any of the symptoms of a urinary tract infection that you bring your parent to their doctor as soon as possible so that they can get a thorough evaluation and proper diagnosis. As with other types of infections, early detection is important to the effectiveness and efficiency of treatments. If diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, the most common type of treatment is antibiotics. It is critical that your parent take these medications exactly as prescribed by their doctor, completing the course even if they feel better after only a day or two. This ensures that the infection is completely resolved and that their body is better prepared to fight off any attempts at resurgence of the infection.

It is important to keep in mind that while younger people are more likely to experience physical symptoms of their infection such as pressure in the abdomen and stinging with urination, elderly adults are more likely to experience symptoms that mimic dementia, such as confusion, disorientation, and loss of judgment. Pay close attention to these symptoms and bring them to the attention of your parent’s doctor as soon as possible to ensure that they get the proper treatment.