PERSONAL HEALTH
We call it home.
DONA AND LEW KELLER
“St. Anne’s Terrace is the best place for retirement living. Take a tour and see for yourself. We did!!
Residents since 2014
• Serving Buckhead community for over 30 years • Minutes from OK Café • Quiet residential neighborhood • Apartments tailored to personal needs
CALL US TO SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT 3100 Northside Parkway, NW Atlanta 30327 www.saintannesterrace.org • 404-238-9200
We assist seniors, veterans, and persons with disabilities in and around the Metro Atlanta area in eating properly and ensuring their safety. Our services include assessing your unique situation, developing a care plan and linking you to a service.
Seniors First of Georgia provides flexible transportation options to meet our clients’ needs. Our assisted non-emergency transportation service includes a door-to-door service that is provided by a driver’s companion in a comfortable, senior-friendly vehicle.
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MAY 2020 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com
Another sign of aging: bladder issues Our bladders change as we age. But the results of those changes and how they occur are among topics most of us don’t ever really talk about, at least in public. Still, as bladder issues confront many seniors, we thought that May (which is designated Pelvic Pain Month), would be a good time to address some common bladder troubles. There is a long list of items that can (and often do) affect our pelvic health. For example, situations like a serious pelvic injury from an auto or bicycle accident, or constant constipation — or even being overweight — can make a difference in how you and your bladder are getting along. At the same time, be aware that pelvic pain can be caused by something other than aging. Certain pain may be an indication of more serious issues located within the pelvic cavity. Bladder problems, however, are not usually painful unless there’s a related infection. Both men and women experience unwanted changes in urination as they grow older, Dr. Murphy Townsend of WellStar Urology says. “There are many effects of aging on the bladder that lead to these untoward bladder symptoms,” Townsend said. One effect of aging is the loss of bladder elasticity, and, according to the National Institute on Again. “A less stretchy, aging bladder cannot hold as much urine as it used to.” So, simply because they’re getting older, seniors can find themselves repeatedly awakened during the night with the sense of a full bladder.
Judith L. Kanne, RN, BSN, BA is a registered nurse and freelance writer who lives in Atlanta. In addition, “The bladder wall and pelvic floor muscles may weaken, making it harder to fully empty the bladder,” according to the National Institute on Aging (NIA). That sometimes causes leakage, or urinary incontinence, the NIA said. Generally, incontinence is simply a nuisance or inconvenience, but it can be worse. It’s something that happens to an estimated 10% of people 65 or older, according to WebMD. The changes seniors confront can vary, based on gender. Women commonly experience changes such as an increase in urgency, the feeling of needing to find relief immediately, and increased frequency called an “overactive bladder,” Townsend said. Men, too, may experience symptoms of urinary urgency and frequency, as well as a slowing of urination, with difficulty starting a urinary stream — which can mean more nighttime visits to the restroom. Bladders are pieces of our urinary tracts that are located in the lower areas of our abdomens.
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