Managing UTIs in Older Adults: Prevention, Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a very common problem for older adults. They also tend to recur. So if your loved one is going through this, they are not alone. Thankfully, treating a UTI can be a pretty straightforward process. However, a UTI in an older adult can cause unforeseen complications including additional symptoms and increased risk of reinfection. So in this article, we’re going to talk about how to manage UTIs in older adults to help you prevent them as often as possible. Let’s dive in.

What is a UTI?

A UTI, or urinary tract infection is an infection that can affect any component of the urinary system, including the bladder, urethra, kidneys, etc.

While the body has natural defenses that prevent this type of infection in most cases, sometimes foreign bacteria (i.e., bacteria foreign to the urinary system) can overwhelm those defenses and cause an infection to stick. 

Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection in Older Adults

If you’ve ever had a UTI as a younger person, you may be familiar with the common symptoms which include the strong and frequent urge to urinate and a burning sensation while urinating. As we age, however, the UTI symptoms become less clear-cut. 

Here are some symptoms to look out for in older adults:

• A strong urge to urinate frequently or suddenly

• Burning sensation while urinating

• Pelvic area pain (particularly in women)

• A strong odor while urinating

• Cloudy or dark urine

• Fever and chills in some instances

Additionally, older adults may show less obvious symptoms (or symptoms easily mistaken for something else) that include:

• Confusion or delirium

• Loss of appetite or reduced thirst

• Hypothermia (i.e., a lower-than-normal body temperature)

• Sudden behavioral changes like agitation or avoidance

• Weakness and fatigue

As we age, our bodies process infections differently which can make it harder to fight off symptoms that maybe would have been mild in a younger body. That’s why it’s important to be familiar with the symptoms you can see for yourself (in the event your loved one doesn’t share the more personal nature of the urinary symptoms they’re feeling in the restroom).

How to Prevent a UTI

Some UTIs are preventable with a bit of proactive action. Here are some preventative measures that can help reduce the severity and/or frequency of UTIs in older adults:

• Staying hydrated

• Using the restroom regularly without holding their bladder

• Good personal hygiene practices, such as wiping from front to back to help prevent transmission

• Staying on top of other conditions like diabetes, neurological issues, or prostate issues 

  
  

UTI Causes More Common in Older Adults

One of the best ways to manage UTIs is to prevent them where possible. However, that’s not always a realistic option. Here are some examples of things that increase the risk of a UTI:

• Catheters. Catheters introduce bacteria directly into the urinary tract and can be a huge cause and/or risk factor for UTIs.

• Menopause. Lower estrogen level levels can lead to an imbalance in the urinary tract that makes it more prone to infection.

• Chronic health conditions like diabetes or neurological conditions.

• Incomplete bladder emptying. Weakened bladder muscles that potentially prevent complete bladder emptying can cause bacteria to linger and create infection.

• Weakened immune system. As we touched on, aging can reduce your immune system‘s ability to prevent infection, which increases your risk of UTI.

How to Manage and Treat UTIs in Older Adults

If your loved one has been diagnosed with urinary tract infection by a healthcare professional, (usually through urinalysis) here are the common treatment options:

• Antibiotics. In most cases, the primary treatment for a urinary tract infection is a round of antibiotics. The severity of the infection, patient history, and any existing prescriptions can affect the chosen antibiotic and the duration of the prescription.

• Hydration. Staying hydrated help helps your body flush the infection faster.

• Over-the-counter pain relievers where needed.

• In severe cases, hospitalization may be the best course of action for treating a UTI.

Generally speaking, a UTI will start to clear up after a few days on an antibiotic course. To prevent recurrence, make sure your loved one completes the full antibiotic round, even if they’ve already started to feel better.

Closing Thoughts: Managing UTIs in Older Adults

UTIs are common and older adults, but they can be prevented with a few proactive steps in a lot of cases. Where they can’t be prevented, quick treatment will reduce the odds of recurrence and discomfort through the infection.

If you’re providing consistent care for a loved one, we invite you to check out our free resources. To get more information about the resources we have available to you as an Orange County, California caregiver, contact us at the California Caregiver Resource Center of Orange County.

Further Reading: Understanding Dementia-Related Wandering 

Understanding dementia-related wandering is essential for helping those living with a cognitive impairment to stay safe and get the best care.

In this article, we’ll help you understand the causes, symptoms, behavior management tips, treatment options, and community care options to help you better care for a loved one showing signs of dementia-related wandering. Click here to read about it.