Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, with nearly 7 out of 10 Australians with dementia having Alzheimer’s. In total Alzheimer's affects around 300,000 Australians.

Dementia is the general term used to describe a progressive cognitive decline in someone. Alzheimer is caused by abnormal structures in the brain damaging and killing nerve cells, resulting in memory failure, personality changes and difficulties carrying out daily activities.

One of these daily activities is managing bladder and bowel control. It is estimated that between 60% and 70% of those with Alzheimer’s struggle with incontinence. In many situations, it's because they just forgot to use the toilet.

Our wonderful nurse has some helpful tips for those caring for someone who may be living with Alzheimer’s:

1. Communication: Encourage them to tell you when they need to use the toilet.
2. Observation: Watch for nonverbal cues, such as restlessness or a sudden expression of uneasiness, that may indicate that they need to use the toilet.
3. Reminding: In some cases, reminding them to use the toilet might help.
4. Accessibility: Ensure that the toilet is always accessible and they are aware of their way to it.
5. Clear Path: Ensure that their way to the toilet is always unobstructed and the toilet is well lit and easy and safe to use.
6. Scheduling: Where possible, introduce a regular schedule for taking the person to the toilet, such as early morning and then every two hours until late evening.
7. Adapting: Identify when accidents occur, then plan for them. If they happen every two hours, get them to the bathroom before that time.
8. Dressing: Dress them in clothing that is easy to remove and to clean.
9. Personal Products: Use good quality incontinence products (such as incontinence pads and incontinence pull-up pants) that have high absorbency. At ConfidenceClub, we carry a range of continence management aids for all types and levels of need.
10. Furniture Protection: Ensure that chairs and beds are suitably protected from unwanted leaks. We offer a wide range of top-quality chair and bed protectors to help keep fluid from soaking into the cushion or mattress.

If you are a carer looking after someone with Alzheimer's Disease then we take our hat off to you because we really understand how challenging it is sometimes. With patience, flexibility, self-care, and the support of friends and family, we're confident you can get beyond the difficulties and challenges that lie ahead.