Age-related changes to the bladder and urinary systems

Bladder control problems and wetting are more common in older people than younger people.

What to expect

• older people should expect to wake at night to pass urine once or twice
• older men will notice the force of urine flow gets less.

Help is needed when:

• the number of times you get up at night becomes a problem
• you are wetting the bed at night
• you are having to rush frequently to the toilet
• you are going to the toilet to pass urine more often than every 2 hours during the day
• you are wetting so underclothes have to be changed or smell is a problem.

What can affect bladder control?

• Prostate gland enlargement in men can cause dribbling of urine, having to pass urine frequently, going to the toilet at night and poor urinary flow.
• Urinary infections are more common in older people. Symptoms, including bladder control problems, may be caused by urinary infections. Some bladder problems can cause symptoms similar to those of infection.
• Some diseases make it difficult to get to and use the toilet, such as arthritis, stroke, Parkinson's disease and dementia.
• After the menopause, when a woman's periods stop, there is less of the female hormone, oestrogen. Some bladder symptoms can worsen because of this decline in oestrogen levels.
• Bladder control problems, including having to rush to the toilet in a hurry, passing urine frequently, waking more than three times a night to pass urine, and wetting, can be caused by some diseases, eg, stroke, dementia, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

What other factors can affect bladder control?

• some medications
• constipation (infrequent or difficult bowel action)
• diabetes is a common disease in older people - it can lead to a person making more urine so they have to go to the toilet more often in the day and at night
• diabetes can directly damage the bladder and bowel muscle.

Where can help be found?

There are many health professionals qualified to assist you with bladder control problems. You may seek assistance from your doctor, who may offer treatment directly or refer you to a specialist, or to a qualified continence advisor.

You may also seek help and obtain information directly from the following sources:

• national helpline - ph 0800 650 659
• your GP
• continence nurse advisors and physiotherapists
• Disability Resource Centre
• district nursing services
• independent living centers.

Some 280,000 New Zealanders have difficulty controlling their bladder and bowel.

Pads for wetting problems

• pads may help people with bladder control problems to catch the leaking urine
• because bladder and urinary systems change with age, help is needed to diagnose and treat the bladder control problem
• help may also be needed to choose the right pad or equipment for a particular bladder control problem and to protect skin and prevent bad smells.

Being old is not an excuse for having a bladder control or wetting problem and, almost always, things can be done to improve the bladder control problem.

Related topics

Bowel control problems
Bladder training
Bladder control in women
Bladder control in men

Original material provided by the New Zealand Continence Association. Edited by everybody, August 2005.