Managing Night time Incontinence with Dignity and Comfort

Night-time incontinence is a common issue among older adults, yet it’s something that many people feel uncomfortable talking about. Whether it happens occasionally or more frequently, it can lead to broken sleep, skin irritation and a loss of confidence. While it’s often linked to age-related changes or certain health conditions, it’s not something anyone should have to struggle with alone.

A common misconception of incontinence is that it’s not treatable, but thankfully, this isn’t always the case. There are some things that can be done to help older adults sleep soundly and reduce the number of their accidents. In this article, we’ll explore the causes, symptoms and how to help a loved one manage night time incontinence while protecting their dignity and comfort.

How can incontinence affect someone during the night?

Incontinence is the inability to control when your bladder or bowel releases, with severity ranging from occasional leaks to complete loss of control. While incontinence can happen at any time of day, experiencing it at night opens up a whole new set of challenges.

Not only can it be embarrassing if your loved one has to let someone know they need a change of sheets, but there are also a number of practical matters that incontinence interferes with. For example, it often seriously disrupts sleep – especially when it’s happening a few times a week or every night.

Sleep is incredibly important. It helps us recover and revitalise from the previous day, repair muscle tissues and keep our bodies healthy. While sleeping, the immune system improves itself, our brain clears out waste products and our cells regenerate. If wet sheets and clothes are interfering with your loved one’s sleep patterns each night, their body won’t experience all the benefits that sleeping has to offer.

For people who are dealing with incontinence for the first time in decades, it might be incredibly impactful on their self-esteem: reducing quality of life and increasing the risk of anxiety and depression.

Recognising the causes and symptoms of night time incontinence

Trying to get incontinence under control sometimes feels impossible when you don’t know the cause or understand the symptoms. Whether you’re caring for someone experiencing night time incontinence or are trying to manage it yourself, the first step is recognising its potential triggers.

So, what causes incontinence? Here are a few of the most common reasons to look out for:

Medical conditions and medicine: Parkinson’s, dementia and multiple sclerosis (and their corresponding medications) may increase the chance of incontinence.
Diabetes: A common side effect of diabetes is an increase in urine production, which increases the chances of an accident.
Urinary tract infections: As we age, UTIs become more common, and the irritation this has on the bladder may cause incontinence.
Sleep apnoea: This disrupts sleep patterns, making it difficult to wake up when your body is signalling that you need the bathroom.
Weakened pelvic floor: The pelvic floor weakens as we age and can be affected by a number of things, including childbirth, obesity, prolapse and more.

If you’re wondering if your loved one is dealing with incontinence, frequent night time bathroom trips, wet bedding and disrupted sleep are clear signs. You may also see them trying to hide wet clothes and sheets in the morning.

Some people don’t believe there’s a cure for incontinence, so they don’t pay too much attention to their symptoms and causes. However, keeping an eye on these gives you plenty of information to tell a healthcare professional, who can come up with a tailored plan that hopefully addresses the issue instead of simply accepting it.

Quick fixes for night time incontinence

There’s no need for your loved one to accept their incontinence off as ‘just a part of getting older’. There are several things to try to alleviate the problem – some people find that making a few small tweaks to their daily routine can treat incontinence altogether! Here are some of the simplest things to try that might reduce your loved one’s symptoms:

Encourage them to change their fluid intake

One of the easiest ways to affect night time incontinence is to stop drinking as much in the late evening. It sounds simple (because it is!) but redistributing how much your loved one drinks nearer bedtime to earlier in the day is a great way to test if this is the cause of their incontinence. Some older people have also had luck with avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed.

Be careful not to take this too far, as people suffering from incontinence may also become dehydrated. Dehydration in older adults opens up a whole host of extra issues, so instead of getting them to drink less in a day, try offering more hydrating fluids in the morning and afternoon.

Book an appointment with their GP

Incontinence could be a symptom of an overactive bladder or urinary tract infection, so it might be worth talking to your loved one’s doctor to rule out any treatable causes. The quicker they get the cause treated, the quicker they’ll get their restful sleep back.

Even if their incontinence is caused by something not immediately treatable, like type 2 diabetes or an enlarged prostate, their GP can give them valuable advice on how to manage it, hopefully making the best of a bad situation.

Review their medication

While you have a doctor’s attention, it’d be wise to take a list of your loved one’s current medications for review. They’ll tell you whether any are diuretics, which are medicines that increase urine production and may result in nighttime incontinence.

Other medications, like those for insomnia and psychiatric conditions (e.g. thioridazine, clozapine and risperidone), may also have incontinence as a side effect. Information about medications is always being updated, so they might’ve missed new side effects being added to the information sheet on treatments they’ve been using for a long time.

Tips for creating a supportive sleep environment and routine

If there isn’t a quick fix for your loved one’s incontinence, don’t panic. You can still help them get a good night’s sleep by looking at the bigger picture and creating a supportive sleep environment. Here are our favourite tips for minimising sleep interruptions and reducing the impact of incontinence on older adults:

Start with the basics

Before going to bed, make sure your loved one has gone to the toilet. To avoid the urge to go waking them up or leading to incontinence, encourage them to avoid fluids for two hours before bed. If their medicines act as diuretics or come with a side effect of incontinence, try and move their treatment time to earlier in the day.

Older adults often experience fluid retention build up throughout the day, especially in their legs. Encourage them to wear compression stockings and elevate their legs during the afternoon to reduce how often they need to use the bathroom at night.

Try using incontinence aids

If your loved one is experiencing incontinence most or every night, it might be time to introduce absorbent aids to protect their skin and furniture. Aids to consider include:

Night pants
Mattress protector pads
Barrier cream

High-quality incontinence aids are absorbent, comfortable and moisture-wicking. These keep your loved one dry throughout the night, protecting their dignity and making them more comfortable without leaks or wet bedding.

Keep your loved one safe

As our age increases, so does our risk of falling. Research showed that more than one-third of 400 falls, from hospitalised patients over the age of 60, were related to toileting: almost half occurring at night. Hurried trips to the bathroom alone, while they’re tired and worried about not making it in time, often increase the risk of falls for your loved one.

To help avoid dangerous falls at night, you could:

Install a chair-style commode next to their bed
Make sure they have a clear pathway to the bathroom, removing hazards and excess furniture
Place motion sensor lights throughout the home so they don’t have to waste time looking for light switches

Take care of their fragile skin

One of the quickest ways to help your loved one feel more comfortable with their incontinence is by taking care of their skin. Sleeping in wet clothes or bedding can increase the risk of developing a skin condition, potentially leading to itching and sores. To maintain their skin’s health, follow this three-step plan:

Keep them dry: Choose incontinence aids with fast absorption and made from soft, high-quality materials like breathable cotton. Always make sure the size and absorbency level are correct for your loved one to keep their dignity and avoid leaks.
Keep them clean: During every change, check the skin and clean it with gentle wet wipes or a wash cream. Look for cleaning products designed for the most fragile skin. These moisturise and protect while keeping the skin’s natural barrier intact to avoid pain and irritation.
Keep them protected: Frail skin should be moisturised once a day to keep it soft and stop lots of itching from damaging their thin skin. A barrier cream acts as an extra layer for protection from excess moisture and irritants.

Offering emotional support to your loved one to preserve their dignity

Even if they’re only temporary, incontinence episodes can be awkward, shameful and frustrating. No matter whether your loved one has them every so often or most nights, it’s important that you offer emotional support along with their daily care. Here are some ways to offer emotional support when dealing with incontinence:

Handle the topic gently and with care: Instead of using language like “Did you wet the bed again?”, try “How can I help you feel more comfortable at night?”. Instead of pointing out an embarrassing pattern of behaviour, you’ll be showing them your proactive attitude towards helping them feel better.
Open the lines of communication: Create a judgment-free zone where your loved one feels safe talking to you and sharing their concerns. Listen to them before giving them your two pence, and validate their feelings instead of brushing them off.
Stay motivated enough for both of you: When facing incontinence, your loved one might become deflated and tired of trying solutions that aren’t working. Remain positive and influence them to keep their chin up and eyes on the prize.
Maintain respect: One of the best ways to preserve dignity is to show how much you still respect your loved one. Help keep their self-worth up by taking their attention away from night time incontinence during the day. Encourage them to enjoy day-to-day activities and hobbies without letting their incontinence consume their every waking thought.

Caring for someone with incontinence can be difficult and taxing on you. Taking breaks and removing yourself from the situation every so often prevents you from getting overstimulated and frustrated. The last thing you want to do is make your loved one feel embarrassed or like a burden for something out of their control, so be mindful of your words and actions when dealing with this sensitive subject.

How Country Cousins can help

Caring for a loved one with night time incontinence takes a lot out of both of you, and as the carer, you’re usually tasked with remaining upbeat and positive about the whole situation. This is no easy feat, especially when you have other responsibilities to focus on alongside a broken sleep schedule.

Our experienced live-in carers provide discreet, compassionate support for older adults managing incontinence, always prioritising dignity and comfort. Whether you need full-time care or short-term respite to take pressure off family routines, we’ll work around your existing care plan and tailor our support to suit your needs.

Talk to our team today

As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we have been providing compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959 – all from the comfort of their own homes.

Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.