Not every holiday is about cake and balloons- and National Senior UTI Awareness Day (October 24th) is definitely one of those less-festive ones. Still, it shines a light on an important health issue that affects many older adults. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) don’t always show up the same way in seniors as they do in younger adults and come with a unique set of challenges. In this post, we’ll talk about how UTIs can look different in seniors, simple ways to help prevent them, and what to do if one does show up.  

  

Likely Causes of UTIs  

• Age (the risk of developing UTIs increases with age)  
  • Over 10% of women age 65+ report having a UTI each year vs. nearly 30% of women over age 85.
• Having a weakened or compromised immune system  
• Using certain medications  
• Using a catheter   
• Living with Diabetes  
• Living with certain conditions (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, etc.) that may make maintaining hygiene difficult  
• Having kidney stones (in men)  
• Having an enlarged prostate (in men)  
• Having a history of UTIs  
• Not changing adult diapers regularly 
  • Need help finding free/low-cost incontinence supplies? Visit our blog post here.  

  

Senior UTI Symptoms  

• Classic symptoms include:  
  • Pain  
  • Frequent urination  
  • Sudden change in urinary habits  
• Symptoms unique to seniors   
  • Nausea  
  • Fatigue   
  • Incontinence  
  • Acting agitated  
  • Increased falls  
  • Decreased mobility  
  • Decreased appetite  
  • Back pain   
  • Confusion  
  • Low blood pressure (Hypotension)  
  • Increased heart rate (Tachycardia)  

  

When to See a Doctor  

• Talk to your doctor if you or someone in your care experiences any of the above symptoms.   
• Remember: it’s almost always cheaper to see your doctor than to go to urgent care or the emergency room.  

 

Preventing UTIs  

• Stay hydrated  
• Avoid drinks that can irritate the bladder (e.g., caffeine, alcohol, etc.)  
• Practice good hygiene  
• Avoid tight-fitting clothing  
• Change adult diapers frequently   
• Don’t hold your urine, urinate as soon as you feel the urge  
• Talk with your doctor about whether it makes sense for you to take a probiotic  

 

Community Resources  

• Michigan Medicine   
  • Urology @ Chelsea Multispecialty Clinic (734) 936-7030  
  • Urology Clinic @ Taubman Center (no phone number)  
  • Urology @ Ypsilanti Health Center (734) 936-7030  
  • Urology @ West Ann Arbor Health Center (734) 998-7380  
• Trinity Healthy/IHA   
  • Urology @ West Arbor (734) 712-8100  
  • Urology @ Ann Arbor Campus (734) 712-8100