Are there any kind of home tests to look for a UTI?

I love those hats. Moms urologist did not supply them and I told the nurse that I was not going into that tiny bathroom and trying to get Mom to pee in a cup. I have a hard time doing my own. We had to go to a lab one time for labs, they gave me a hat. They pee in it and then u pour it into the little jar.

What you need to do is try to prevent them. If Mom is not incontinent then switch her to cotton panties if using other material ones. Make sure she voids completely. By having her sit a little longer till she gets the urge again helps. Also leaning forward. That she is cleaning herself well, using wipes after a BM. Don't use soap near her urethra. My Mom was on a regiment of cranberry tablets and a probiotic daily. In the year before her death, she had not one UTI. Alva, an RN, swears by D-Mannose to prevent them. But the manufacture claims it may help clear one up.

Yes there are, if your drug store doesn't have them you can get them from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/uti-test-strips/s?k=uti+test+strips

Azo makes a UTI test. A little difficult because you have to'pee' on the test strip.

Yes there are at home tests that my Mom’s doctor recommended I purchase to screen my Mom at home for uti’s after she was getting them consistently every few months. I purchased them from Amazon just a simple stick test kit. Then her dr gave me the sterile urine cups and bags. I would test at home first thing in the morning and following the package directions. Using the “catch hat” or sterile commode bucket makes it much easier than peeing in a tiny cup. Then after the dip stick at home test showed evidence of a uti, I would take the sample to my dr and she would test it at the office and send out a culture to confirm. Since my mother has seizures triggered by uti’s and ended up in the hospital a few times with a uti, her dr would immediately prescribe an antibiotic if the dip stick urine test was positive. This went on for over a year for us. Visits to a urologist finally paid off as he put her on a medicine called, methenamine which has helped stop the frequent uti’s. Apparently it makes it impossible for bacteria to grow in the bladder. It’s important to mention here that it took awhile on this medicine before she was uti free. Also, we tried cranberry pills, and juice as well. And I still use them as the urologist said to continue with those. It’s now been over 6 months without a uti for my Mom so I would highly recommend seeing a urologist to see what your options are. I know not everyone can use this medicine. Hope this helps! Best of luck to you!

Please Google "uti in elders". The symptoms that older folks get with UTIs are not the usual burning or frequency/urgency we experience when younger.

If she tests positive, is the doc still going to want to see her before prescribing anything? Will they let you come in for just a test? Sometimes a culture is needed to determine what type of infection it is.

Good Morning,

How about a little cranberry juice in the morning. My mother had the same problem during the Pandemic, back-to-back, it was awful. I couldn't tell if it was the Dementia progressing or the UTI. After several bouts of antibiotics, when it cleared, you have to wait for their baseline to assess their behavior/symptoms.

Too many of the same antibiotics, after a while the elderly become immune to them; basically they are of no help. It's also important not to mix certain antibiotics with other meds.

Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice the regular kind works for my mother. The "pure" mother did NOT like. Drinking water daily, white "cotton" underwear briefs and not sitting for too long can all help to prevent a UTI.

When the elderly get a UTI, it's harder for them to fight off infection. It can wreak havoc on their system and can be mistaken for other diseases.

I hope I was of some help to you.

My mom 86 yrs. old has chronic UTI, with no symptoms for years. Long story short too many antibiotic can ruin their gut flora and they can wind up with C diff. Which is way worse than a UTI. Important to take probiotic and fermented foods when taking antibiotic.

AZO that makes the urinary over the counter cranberry supplements and OTC meds for urinary infection also makes a test that can be helpful. Just to be on the safe side, if you have home health care coming in, the nurse can also take a sample and have it tested, report to dr, and dr can order meds if needed.

I have recurring UTI after a faulty vaginal mesh years ago. I ordered some strips similar to what they use in doctors offices to check for infection. Got mine from Amazon but I saw them in a local drugstore too so they’re available. They definitely work in showing a result in full blown infection, but I’ve also had UTI & these strips didn’t indicate it until my doctor cultured it.