As patients age, many will quietly accept changes in their activity level, balance, and cognition as inevitable aspects of growing older. But these issues (and others such as incontinence) can dramatically affect life quality, and are important to address whenever possible.
A typical scenario
Judith is a friendly, outgoing grandmother, age 83. Recently she has been dealing with bladder control and balance issues. As a result, she finds herself becoming more and more isolated. First, she stops drinking enough fluids (to lessen urination frequency). Soon, she discontinues her customary train trips to visit family members. In time, she no longer ventures more than 5 or 10 minutes from her home, out of fear she will be too far from a restroom.
Eventually, Judith talks with her doctor about her bladder issue and is able to get surgery to help. But before taking that step, she spent many months avoiding trips to the grocery store and outings with grandkids, leaving home only when she had to for important events. This is why it’s so important to talk directly about aging with your patients who may be reluctant to share their concerns.
Strategies for talking about difficult subjects
You might be able to tell how steady someone is on their feet by watching them get on an exam table. Or perhaps you know them well enough to ask about hobbies and activities that they enjoy.
Here are some good conversation-starters for your elderly patients:
- “Are you worried about your balance or falling? Do you know how to get up if you fall?”
- “Do you struggle with leaking of urine? If you do, there may be treatment options.”
- “How often does your physical or emotional health hold you back from doing the things you want to do?”
These simple questions may take a few extra minutes, but they can help increase the quality of your patients’ lives for years to come (and prevent future issues).
Below are a few resources you can easily share with your patients and their families. We recommend adding them to your after-visit summaries or having printed materials for patients to take home.
If your PacificSource patients need extra assistance with community resources or navigating care needs, have them give our helpful Member Support Specialists a call at 888-991-1536, TTY: 711. We accept all relay calls.
Resources:
- Dementia and Incontinence Treatment
- Embarrassed About Incontinence? Don’t Be
- Debunking the Myths of Older Adult Falls
If you’d like additional tips and/or need continuing education credit, we have several webinars you may find helpful. Log in to MyAbsorb, our online training platform, and search for these topics:
- Urinary Incontinence in the Senior Population
- Fall Prevention, The Role of Occupational Therapy