I had this problem with my husband refusing to go to the bathroom on a regular basis. He now uses Depends, but I still try to be consistent on bathroom breaks. I remind him I love him, and I want to help him. I tell him after we use the bathroom, we are going to have a snack, which I follow through with. My daughter bought us a cover for his recliner and extra pad, I also put a pad on the part of the sofa he likes to sit on and a pad on the bed.
July 28, 2025
Here are some helpful strategies to manage bathroom visits:
- Don't try to reason with or explain why they should use the toilet - this can increase irritation
- Watch for nonverbal cues like unusual faces, pacing, restlessness, or tugging at clothes
- Try framing bathroom visits around other activities, like fixing hair or Show Full Answer
Here are some helpful strategies to manage bathroom visits:
- Don't try to reason with or explain why they should use the toilet - this can increase irritation
- Watch for nonverbal cues like unusual faces, pacing, restlessness, or tugging at clothes
- Try framing bathroom visits around other activities, like fixing hair or makeup
- Remove clutter on the way to and in the bathroom to reduce confusion
- Consider placing a commode beside the bed for nighttime use Creating a consistent routine can also help:
- Establish a regular toileting schedule (every 2 hours, after meals, before bed)
- Use easy-to-remove clothing with elastic waistbands
- Ensure proper hydration during the day but limit fluids close to bedtime
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol
- Monitor their natural patterns and adjust bathroom visits accordingly
Many myALZteam members have found success with scheduled bathroom visits, with one sharing that hourly visits helped improve their situation.
July 27, 2025