An older person with dementia can be at greater risk of a UTI as they may forget to drink water and may be unable to tell you about their symptoms. Another possible cause is forgetting to wash or change their clothes regularly.
UTIs should be treated promptly, so if you notice a sudden behaviour change, don’t ignore it. Left untreated, they can become serious and result in a hospital admission that could have been avoided.
Physical symptoms of a UTI include:
Burning while urinating
A more frequent need to pee
Pain in the lower side, back or abdomen
Blood in the urine
Nausea and vomiting
A high temperature
A low temperature
Shivering
Wetting themselves (worse than usual)
Testing for a UTI
A urine sample can be tested. If the person wears incontinence pads, a urine collection pack can draw a sample from the pad. Contact the person’s GP or NHS continence service for more information.
Treatment for a UTI
Antibiotics are often prescribed; the infection should usually clear up in three to five days. However, it depends on the type of UTI, the treatment and the person’s medical history. If a person is susceptible to UTIs, they may need to take low-dose antibiotics for longer.
If the person feels better after a few days, they should continue their antibiotics.
When will the confusion go away?
A person with dementia who has a UTI may be confused for up to a week after their treatment has started. It may take them some time to recover fully. In most cases, confusion caused by a UTI will eventually go away.
How to prevent a UTI
Encourage the person to drink water or juice – six to eight glasses of fluid daily is ideal.
Make sure they only drink alcohol in moderation.
Prompt them to use the toilet regularly.
Make sure they know where the toilet is located.
Help the person maintain good personal hygiene.
Sources:
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/daily-living/tips-to-prevent-UTIs#content-start
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-tract-infections-utis/