By Carole B. Larkin Alzheimer’s Reading Room Previously I wrote — Alzheimer’s Caregiving Avoiding the Urinary Tract Infection (Part Four). Now let’s move on to Incontinence. Incontinence is usually a part of Alzheimer’s and other dementias because many times in the diseases the portion of the brain that controls our “muscle memory” gets damaged and slowly dies. When that portion of the brain gets damaged, the brain can no longer send the signals needed to make muscles work as they are supposed to. That includes the muscles serving the bladder and the sphincter. If the brain doesn’t send the message to contract and hold urine and feces in then you have a problem that takes special attention and consideration. Incontinence is a process (usually), not an overnight change. The results of periodic incontinence can be proactively addressed and the problem can be solved or lessened. However, the caregiver must be willing to make a serious concerted effort to solve the problem. Each person has their own urinary/bowel pattern (as Bob calls it) or rhythm (as I call it). It generally calls for voiding urine every two hours or so and voiding fecal matter an average 2-3 times a day. (Higher numbers for men I think. Don’t ask me why. I don’t know!). You can determine your loved one’s rhythm by just paying attention to when they go daily and writing it down in a log. The pattern will show up after a week or so

Original Source of Alzheimer’s Caregiving Dealing with Urinary Incontinence (Part Five)