It sounds like your husband is experiencing urinary incontinence, which is very common with Alzheimer's. It can happen because the brain has trouble recognizing when the bladder is full, or because he may not fully recognize the toilet anymore. This is not his fault, and it's important he doesn't feel embarrassed about it.
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It sounds like your husband is experiencing urinary incontinence, which is very common with Alzheimer's. It can happen because the brain has trouble recognizing when the bladder is full, or because he may not fully recognize the toilet anymore. This is not his fault, and it's important he doesn't feel embarrassed about it.
Here are some things that may help:
- Stick to a toilet schedule — take him to the bathroom first thing in the morning, every two hours during the day, after meals, and before bed
- Watch for nonverbal cues like restlessness, fidgeting, tugging at clothing, or unusual facial expressions
- Use simple, two-step directions like "Stand up" then "Let's walk to the bathroom" rather than asking him to decide
- Keep the bathroom easy to find — leave the door open so the toilet is visible, and make sure the path is clear and well-lit
- Consider absorbent underwear like Depends — a myALZteam member shared that putting two pairs on in the morning made cleanup much easier
- Keep wet wipes and a cleanup kit handy for accidents
- Choose easy-to-remove clothing like pants with elastic waistbands It's also worth speaking with his doctor, as certain medications or drinks like coffee and soda can make incontinence worse. His doctor can also suggest products or strategies tailored specifically to him.
You're doing a wonderful job by looking for solutions — that care makes a real difference.
August 22
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