Home Health Caregivers Recognize the Connection Between Dementia and Urinary Tract Infections

The term dementia refers to several medical conditions that reduce an individual’s ability to function. Pegasus professionals are trained to meet the special needs of dementia patients. As expert caregivers, they are aware of the connection between dementia and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Dementia results from damage to the cells and nerves in the brain. Damaged cells lose the ability to communicate with other cells. The lack of nerve and cellular communication leads to memory loss and a decline in cognitive function.

Dementia patients experience impaired ability to:

• Remember new information
• Speak or interact effectively with others
• Focus or understand activity around them
• Use reason or make good judgments
• Accurately perceive what is seen

Family members will also notice behavioral changes in the dementia patient.

Dementia doesn’t occur overnight in most instances. Damage occurs over time. Because it’s gradual, symptoms often aren’t noticed until the disease is in advanced stages.

Caring for a dementia patient can be exceptionally difficult for family members. The level of care needed can become exhausting.

Often, a dementia patient does better at home than in a facility. Pegasus home health care makes staying at home possible, as well as relieving the stress family caregivers feel. Home health caregivers provide a much-needed break for families.

What Damages Brain Cells and Nerves?

Damage to brain cells can occur in many ways, including:

• Alzheimer’s disease – the most common cause of dementia in seniors. For yet unknown reasons, victims develop clumps and tangles of proteins in their brain.
• Frontotemporal dementia – nerve cells associated with behavior, language, and personality have degenerated.
• Lewy body dementia – clumps of protein called Lewy bodies damage the victim’s brain. Lewy bodies are also part of Alzheimer’s and other diseases.
• Vascular dementia – damaged blood vessels are no longer able to supply the brain with nutrition. The blood vessels can be damaged in a variety of ways, including from a stroke.
• Certain diseases such as Parkinson’s.

Home Health Care Specialists Understand Urinary Tract Infections

Infections, including urinary tract infections, can damage nerves and brain cells. That can lead to temporary mental disorientation. The disorientation can be mistaken for the onset of dementia by those unfamiliar with the interaction between it and UTIs.

Temporary dementia can be successfully treated and potentially reversed if the cause is removed. Reversible dementia has much of the same symptoms as irreversible dementia, so testing is necessary to determine the cause.

Dementia due to infection may occur rapidly, which is a telltale difference between a reversible and an irreversible condition.

Home health care professionals are trained to observe and evaluate any changes in patients. Individuals with dementia aren’t always able to express what’s happening in their minds and bodies. Pegasus caregivers have the ability to elicit information and understand what is or isn’t significant.

If the individual already has dementia, a UTI can worsen it. That makes it even more important to find the cause for any disorientation. Treat the infection, and dementia may improve.

Diagnosing Urinary Tract Infections

The difficulty lies in diagnosing and treating a UTI in seniors. Elderly individuals are susceptible to UTIs, especially if they must use a catheter. It’s also easier for them to contract a UTI when they’re hospitalized for any reason.

Younger individuals often know as soon as they have a UTI. Various medical conditions can mask the condition in older individuals. If the person already has dementia, any disorientation is attributed to that rather than to a UTI.

These so-called classic symptoms of a UTI include:

• Frequent and/or painful urination
• Abdominal pain
• Chills or fever

A round of antibiotics relieves these symptoms.

Elderly individuals have some or all of those symptoms, but they may also be:

• Confused
• Incontinent or retaining urine
• Agitated or lethargic
• Unwilling to eat
• Flushed or feverish
• Nauseous or vomiting

Inexperienced family caregivers may not recognize the seriousness of these symptoms.

Dementia patients can experience those and similar symptoms without being aware of them. Some individuals are aware but unable to describe their symptoms. Without adequate communication, only the dementia is treated, and the UTI worsens.

When a UTI is not promptly treated, the bacteria moves to the kidneys and other organs. It can progress from a simple infection to a life-threatening condition.

An experienced caregiver knows the significance of any changes in symptoms, including when:

• Changes began
• How often changed symptoms occur
• How intense the changed symptoms are

They are also aware of any recent occurrence that could cause an infection.

Antibiotics are the first line of treatment, but home care also significantly aids in recovery. Expert home care also helps to prevent future infections.

Pegasus home health caregivers ensure that their patients:

• Consume adequate fluids
• Use the bathroom frequently
• Practice good hygiene
• Take an antibiotic as prescribed

They can also administer home tests that detect the presence of bacteria in the urine.

There is a medically recognized connection between dementia and urinary tract infections. Determining which condition is causing disorientation in your family member is essential. You can rely on a Pegasus home health caregiver for guidance in obtaining the appropriate treatment.