Environmental effects on incontinence problems in Alzheimer's disease patients

Abstract

Incontinence is a problem for both AD patients as well as their caregivers and becomes increasingly difficult to treat as cognitive abilities deteriorate. There are a variety of behavioral interventions to help alleviate incontinence. However, these remedies are often in-appropriate for dementia patients since the ability to comply diminishes with the progression of the disease. This study examines the differences in toilet use under concealed and visible conditions to determine whether visibility of the toilet is a supportive cue for AD patients. The results indicate that utilization of the toilets increased when toilets were visually accessible.