Caring for a loved one who is seriously or terminally ill is a personal and compassionate journey. Proper care is key to preventing complications and ensuring comfort. If your loved one has a catheter, we’re going to guide you on some basics of catheter care and how to keep your loved one comfortable.
What is a catheter? A catheter is a tube inserted into the bladder to drain urine when someone can’t urinate on their own.
Proper hygiene is key in catheter care. And to prevent infection.
- Always wash your hands before and after handling the catheter. Clean the area around the catheter daily with mild soap and water. Always use a clean towel to dry the area and avoid using any rough fabrics, as this can irritate the skin.
- Ensure the catheter and drainage tube are clean and dry.
- Avoid tugging or pulling on the catheter.
- Use adhesive or catheter strap to secure the tube to the leg to avoid tension and accidentally pulling.
- Keep the catheter below the level of the bladder to prevent urine from backing up into the tube.
Signs of infection that you need to watch for are:
- Redness, swelling, or any discharge around the catheter site.
- Pain or discomfort
- A foul smell or cloudy urine
- Or a fever or chills.
It’s important to monitor urine output. Track the color, the amount and the consistency of the urine in the collection bag. Healthy urine should be pale yellow and clear. Dark or cloudy. urine signals and infection.
The collection bag will need to be emptied and drained, and it should be emptied and drank regularly at least every three and four hours or when it’s half full. The catheter will need to be changed periodically, and you can reach out to your Hospice Team about when that should occur.
When should you contact your hospice team about the catheter?
If there’s difficulty draining urine, persistent pain or fever or other some other unusual symptoms, or if the catheter becomes dislodged or blocked. Call your hospice team for support.
