Elderly dad in hospital

[Loopylou38]

Hi , dads been in hospital 8 weeks ago no paralysis thankfully, he was top of the just for rehab but caught Covid and has been very poorly and it’s knocked him back

He’s never had urinating problems but the Dr fitted a Catheter and said he’s got retention I just can’t get my head around it It’s been in 3 weeks now and I’m worried sick the dr said baby they took it out twice and dad isn’t passing urine , I’ve requested that they try again as his can my dad go home he’s 85 and wouldn’t be able to manage it .

[MoserRothOrangeandAlmond]

Lots of men have prostate problems and this causes them problems with urinating. Some need medication such as alpha blockers to help with that, others need an operation.
In my experience a lot of older men have catheters and they manage.
Sometimes with a bag attached to their leg or they have a valve that they open to urinate. If they struggle with dexterity carers can come and help empty the bag. Overnight you attach a larger bag to the end of the smaller bag so your not disturbed overnight.
It's very common

[Loopylou38]

Thankyou for your reply I just don’t know how things can change over night he was in hospital 4 weeks before catching Covid and not one Dr picked up on anything as my dad was urinating normally . Maybe he was holding it in (could I be in Denial). He did say before he got very poorly that when he asked to use the loo the nurses were very slow to get to him
He was living independently on his own I just don’t know what I’m going to do we don’t have a large family and since Covid he has deteriorated I’m not sure that even with carers that he would be safe .

Im not keen on a care home & would love to see him go home but I don’t know where to start should I get a social worker?
Hes still not medically fit to leave hospital but hopefully will go to rehab to gain some strength

[MoserRothOrangeandAlmond]

You can still pass some urine and still be in retention as your bladder can't fully empty.

Is there no one you can talk to on the ward he's on re assessing for home? Normally they have hospital social workers. Sometimes people go to places that have assessment beds. As you said he's not medically fit at the moment so they probably won't be able to assess him properly.

[Loopylou38]

We have spoken to the consultant, he’s not even sure at this moment in time if rehab will benefit him
Im worried sick and don’t know if I should be planning ahead thinking care homes or what and see if he can go home
My husband said not to get social services involved yet but I’m honestly thinking maybe I should
My dad is at risk of another infection in hospital and he’s also going bananas with the boredom
They can’t apply for a rehab until he’s medically fit then it’s a waiting game for a bed