What You Need To Do If You Suspect An Elderly Loved One Has A UTI

Urinary tract infections in elderly people are serious business. Utreated lower urinary tract infections (cystitis) can quickly develop into kidney infections, and sepsis — a blood stream infection that can quickly become life-threatening if no action is undertaken — can set in. Younger people, especially women, tend to think of UTIs as irritating but pretty much inevitable from time to time. The fact that they are much more serious in older people can't be stressed enough.

 

If you suspect one of your parents or another elderly loved one has a urinary tract infection, you need to take action — now. The behavioral symptoms mentioned on the first page can indeed be signs of cognitive issues as well, but if they occur suddenly, they may very well be caused by a UTI. Older people who mention feeling burning pains in their lower abdomen or needing to urinate more frequently definitely need to be seen by a doctor, but if those symptoms are absent, you should still make an urgent appointment. 

 

My mother was taken to hospital as soon as her UTI was diagnosed. While there, the symptoms continued to worsen: she had developed dehydration, stopped urinating altogether, and had a fever and pains in her body. When I went to visit her the first time, she told me how rude I was: I had forgotten to say hello to my uncle Koos, who was in the bed directly opposite hers. My uncle Koos lived in the United States at the time (I'm from Europe), and he definitely wasn't the man she pointed to.

 

After IV antibiotics and rehydration, however, all was well again soon enough. My mother was discharged about five days after she first got to hospital.

Because UTIs can be fatal in elderly people, it is crucial to keep your eyes out for symptoms. 

 

Prevention is still better than the cure, of course, and you'll be pleased to know that there are things that can be done to minimize the risk of urinary tract infections in elderly people. 

Whether your elderly loved one lived independently or in a nursing home, a plan needs to be put in place for them to shower regularly and change their underwear every day. Wiping still needs to happen from front to back, and plentiful water consumption is absolutely essential. If your loved one doesn't have a history of kidney stones, drinking cranberry juice every day can help prevent UTIs. Besides that, your loved one will benefit from a caring relative who will be vigilant about their health. That's you.