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Urinary Tract Infection in Seniors: Causes & How To Prevent It
Lisa Reisman • Aug 28, 2019
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What You Didn't Know About UTIs
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused when harmful bacteria makes its way into the urethra and travels into the bladder and kidneys. Most people associate UTIs and their contraction with sexual activity; however, for our older generation, it could mean far worse complications than simply experiencing pain when you urinate. There are many different ways a person can acquire a UTI. Even though it can go without showing symptoms, leaving them untreated can cause dangerous health issues and even death down the road.
Understanding UTIs
Although our urinary tract systems are strong and meant to keep out microscopic invaders, sometimes these defense systems fail. When that happens, bacteria may take life in our urinary tract systems and grow into infections that affect our bladder and kidneys. An article by Annette McDermott on Healthline’s website tells us that women are four times more likely to develop UTIs than men because women have shorter length to their urethra. “Your UTI risk increases with age. More than one-third of all infections in people in nursing homes are UTIs. Over 10 percent of women over age 65 reports having a UTI within the past year. That number increases to almost thirty percent in women over 85. Men also tend to experience more UTIs as they age.”
Bladder infections are the more common type of urinary tract infections; some individuals experience little or no symptoms. If you do have symptoms of a bladder infection, they include signs like dysuria (pain or burning when urinating), low abdominal pain, or unusual smelling and cloudy looking urine. Untreated bladder infections are a result of UTIs that spread to the kidneys— symptoms may mirror those in the bladder, and also include pain in the lower back, fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting.
UTIs in the Elderly
The one of the reasons the older community suffers from urinary tract infections so frequently is because of their weakened immune system. Symptoms may be the same for a UTI as someone who is younger— the painful urination, cloudy looking urine, and low back pain, but our immune systems change as we age, making infection harder to fight off and allowing our bodies to respond differently in times of need. Instead of painful physical symptoms, seniors with a UTI may show increased signs of confusion, anxiousness, or withdrawal. Confusion caused by a UTI can be a result from the stress the infection puts on the body whether it’s emotionally or physically.
Many times, this change in mental status is the only symptom of UTIs in elderly people, and can be described as delirium. An article by Dr. Vik Rajan, M.D. says it is important to distinguish delirium from dementia, because delirium involves a short-term mental status change (over the span of hours or days) that is caused by a potentially reversible condition (such as infections, hypoglycemia, medication side effects, etc). While dementia represents a more chronic mental status change (over the span of months to years) that may or may not be reversible, depending on the cause.
Figuring out your loved one’s baseline mental status is important to knowing if and when delirium is affecting her on top any preexisting dementia. If a sharp decline in mental status is detected in a loved one who is already suffering from dementia, it could the cause of a urinary tract infection. Increasingly, UTIs take a turn for the worst in patients with existing dementia or Alzheimer’s because the confusion is seen as normal behavior.
Risk Factors
Weakened immune systems compromised by age.
A reduced ability to control urination and bowel movements, which increases chances of getting bacteria into the urinary tract.
A long-term stay in a care center or hospital where a urinary catheter is used, making bladder infections more likely.
Issues with the bladder dropping down from its normal position—when this happens they cannot empty properly.
Women, who have gone through menopause having lower estrogen, can allow bacteria to grow more easily in the vagina or urethra.
Having an enlarged prostate in men can cause a partial block of the urinary system.
Conditions like diabetes, obesity, and poor hygiene where releasing urine is problematic.
Being on certain medications that make it difficult to urinate.
How to Prevent UTIs
It’s very important to help your senior loved one prevent a urinary tract infection, especially if they already suffer from confusion or dementia. Monitoring fluid intake can do this. Encourage your family member to have about six to eight glasses of water a day. If their fluid intake is high, they’ll need to urinate regularly to flush their urinary tract system, which keeps it healthier than those who don’t use the bathroom regularly. If your loved one is female, encourage them to wipe front-to-back to decrease chances of developing a urinary tract infection. Additionally, make sure your loved one has good hygiene including daily showers, which can be forgotten about if seniors live alone.
As we mentioned before, it’s very important to look for changes in ones behavior. Sudden falls, confusion, or an onset of incontinence may all be warning signs that someone you love has developed a UTI. Contact their local physician and schedule a check-up if you think this may be the case.
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