Elderly Nocturia: Wake-up Call for Frequent Urinating at Night

The causes of nocturia

Official publications pointed out that the chances of nocturia occurring increases with each passing year. 20-30% of mature adults in their 50s are diagnosed with this symptom, while almost every second elderly above 70 suffers from it. In case you are among the victims as well, then know that it is hormone imbalances or vesical problems that are to be blamed. Interestingly, drinking less doesn’t seem to cure the problem, as the fluids amass in the patient’s leg only to come back when they are lying on the bed. Furthermore, experimenting with fluid intake just added dehydration to the pile of issues seniors must deal with.

No cure, only management strategies

The sad truth is that there are no shortcuts for ending your nightly visits to the bathroom. In some cases when nocturia is caused by prostate obstruction or an overacting bladder, surgical operation could be an answer, but for most people physicians recommend a lifestyle change. Drinking less caffeine and alcohol is a good start, especially before bedtime. Unless your aging relative suffers from bladder failure problems, compression stockings are also a good option because they prevent fluids from stacking up in the legs. Also, take a long hard look at the senior’s medication list. Nocturia is often the side effect of certain drugs related to increasing fluid passing in the body.

The other problem associated with bladder issues is the risk of falling. It’s commonly known that the bathroom and the stairs are the most accident-prone places in a senior’s house. This is coupled by the fact that most hallways are badly lit, making the safe navigation at night almost impossible. Luckily there are several tips on how to make the house fall-proof, but we also recommend opting for a medical alert pendant with fall detection, because they can literally save the life of a fallen elderly person.