11.09.2025

Urinary Incontinence in People with Dementia

When you're caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer's, you deal with many daily hurdles and urinary incontinence (UI) can often become an extra challenge. While it can happen at any age, it is more common in older adults, and Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia further increase its likelihood. This article offers guidance on how to effectively address this issue. We'll provide practical tips on adapting to the environment, communicating with the person you care for, and choosing the right absorbent products to make daily care easier while maintaining the person's dignity and well-being.

When you're caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer's, you deal with many daily hurdles and urinary incontinence (UI) can often become an extra challenge. While it can happen at any age, it is more common in older adults, and Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia further increase its likelihood. This article offers guidance on how to effectively address this issue. We'll provide practical tips on adapting to the environment, communicating with the person you care for, and choosing the right absorbent products to make daily care easier while maintaining the person's dignity and well-being. 

Urinary Incontinence and Dementia – Practical Tips

In people with dementia, brain function impairment leads to a decline in mental and cognitive abilities. Memory problems, disorientation in time and space, and difficulties with word choice or confusing meanings can severely impair daily functioning. People with the disease may struggle to interpret body signals, communicate their needs, locate the bathroom, or manage independently. It can, in turn, lead to emotional distress, frustration, shame, anxiety, and episodes of urinary incontinence. For this reason, it's so important for caregivers of people with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia to assist them with toileting activities. The role of a caregiver, whether professional or family, is challenging, but remember that by properly caring for the person, you can reduce these challenges.

When dealing with incontinence, the first step should always be to consult a doctor who can determine the causes of the UI and propose treatment. In the meantime, you can make a few specific changes to the person's environment to help reduce episodes of incontinence. 

Make sure the bathroom is open, easy to find, and create a well-lit, obstacle-free path to it. Remove items from the bathroom, such as trash cans or laundry baskets, which can easily be mistaken for a toilet.

People with dementia may have trouble reacting quickly to the need to urinate. Therefore, make sure the person wears clothing that can be easily taken off and put on.

Your relationship and communication with the person you care for are also crucial. First and foremost, encourage them to let you know when they need to go to the bathroom. Remember to use words suitable for adults, avoiding nicknames or childish terms when discussing toileting activities.

Communication with people with dementia can be difficult, and they might misunderstand your encouragement to use the toilet. That's why you should observe nonverbal signals, such as restlessness, facial expressions, pacing, sudden silence, or hiding in corners. These signals can indicate the need to use the toilet.

Some people use specific words or phrases when they need to go to the bathroom. These phrases may not relate to urination at all (e.g., "I can't turn on the light"), but for that person, they signify a desire to use the toilet. Picking up on such signals will help both the caregiver and the person being cared for.

Why Absorbent Products Are a Good Option for People with Dementia

As we mentioned, episodes of urinary incontinence can cause shame and anxiety, so when suggesting absorbent products, we should be discreet and tactful. It's important to discuss this with the person you care for, explaining why it is necessary. For example, you can tell them, "Urinary incontinence happens often, and it can be managed. The extra protection I'm suggesting is to keep you dry and secure. These products are discreet; no one will even notice you're wearing them." Such supportive messages help reduce anxiety and resistance and build trust.

When choosing absorbent products for people with dementia, consider features that will benefit both the person you care for and the caregiver in their daily lives, on both a physical and psychological level.

People with dementia often refuse to wear traditional adult diapers with hook-and-loop fasteners. That's why absorbent underwear products like Seni Active can be a good choice. They feel more natural and familiar. They are put on like regular underwear, which also allows for continued use of the toilet—either independently or with a caregiver's help. If a bathroom isn't nearby, Seni Active, equipped with standing side gathers and an EDS moisture distribution system, effectively protects against leaks and also controls unpleasant odours.

For the caregiver, this means greater comfort, without the constant need to change wet clothes, and more time to focus on other tasks. For the person in your care, it provides a sense of security, control, and confidence, which, as we mentioned, is invaluable for their mental well-being.

To make caregivers' work easier, Seni Active are designed to be easy to put on and take off, and the torn side seams allow for quick and hygienic removal of a used product. A tape at the back allows it to be rolled up and disposed of hygienically in the trash.

What's more, Seni Active are made from breathable and skin-friendly materials, minimizing the risk of irritation. They are recommended for people with moderate, heavy, and very heavy incontinence. Seni Active disposable absorbent underwear is available in sizes from XS to 2XL and in four absorbency levels: three for daytime use (Normal, Super, and Plus), and one with increased absorbency (Trio), which is also recommended for nighttime.

For people with dementia, urinary incontinence is a challenge, but we can help them overcome it. Remember that it's not just about dryness and hygiene but primarily about preserving the dignity and comfort of the person with the disease. Your role as a caregiver is invaluable in this. By understanding the needs of the person you care for, adapting their environment, and choosing appropriate, discreet solutions like absorbent underwear, you can significantly improve the quality of life for both the person you care for and yourself.

Seni Active Normal kup teraz Seni Active Super kup teraz Seni Active Plus kup teraz

Seni Active Trio kup teraz