Catheter Care

District or community nurses are usually responsible for inserting and changing catheters, as well as providing medical guidance. Our role sits alongside theirs. We handle day‑to‑day support such as hygiene, bag emptying, comfort and observation, and follow the instructions that nurses or hospital teams provide. With your consent, we can share information about any concerns we notice, such as changes in urine, discomfort or mobility. This joined‑up approach helps potential issues to be picked up early. For some people with multiple conditions, we also coordinate with other condition‑led care services so everything feels connected.

Feeling overwhelmed is very common, especially if you are juggling work, children or your own health. You do not have to manage alone. We can provide regular visits for catheter care, respite time so you can rest, or more intensive support if your loved one also has complex conditions. Information on funding and assessments is available through our care costs and funding guidance. Many families find that even a small amount of regular help makes a big difference to stress levels and family relationships.

Feeling embarrassed is completely understandable, especially when continence changes happen suddenly or at a younger age. It can help to acknowledge those feelings gently, without rushing to “cheer up” the person. Using everyday language, keeping conversations respectful and normalising the catheter as just another medical aid, like glasses or a walking stick, can reduce shame over time. Our carers are used to supporting people through these emotions, offering quiet reassurance and normal conversation during care tasks. We also encourage activities that have nothing to do with health, like hobbies and gentle outings, supported by friendly companionship visits, so the person’s identity feels bigger than their catheter.

In many cases, yes, but it depends on the type of catheter and any specific advice from your nurse or doctor. Showers are often preferred because you can keep the catheter and bag positioned safely without submerging the area for too long. Some people are advised to avoid soaking in baths, especially with new or healing suprapubic sites. Our carers can assist with bathing, showering and general hygiene, helping to protect your privacy and dignity while following the guidance you’ve been given. We’ll also help you choose towels, mats and equipment that make everything safer.

If a catheter falls out or stops draining and the person feels pain, this is often urgent and you should follow the emergency advice provided by your nurse or hospital team, which may include calling 111 or 999 depending on symptoms. Do not attempt to reinsert the catheter yourself. Our carers are trained to stay calm, keep the person as comfortable as possible, protect clothing and bedding, and contact the appropriate service immediately. We will also support you emotionally during and after the event, as it can be quite frightening for families.

When someone has dementia, catheters can sometimes feel confusing or distressing, leading them to pull at the tubing. Gentle explanations, distraction and clothing that covers the catheter can help. Our dementia‑aware carers use calm reassurance, familiar routines and meaningful activities to reduce agitation. We can also work with specialist dementia care teams and nurses to review alternative options if needed. Above all, we focus on comfort, safety and preserving dignity, supporting you as a family to manage what can be a very worrying situation.

In most cases, yes. Once the catheter has been inserted and checked by a nurse or doctor, the ongoing day-to-day care can usually happen at home. This includes tasks like washing around the catheter site, emptying and changing drainage bags, checking that urine is flowing freely and keeping an eye out for early signs of infection. Many families choose support from our home care team so they are not carrying the responsibility alone. We can provide regular visits, review routines with you, and liaise with community nurses if anything changes. With clear instructions, good hygiene and a calm, unhurried approach, home really can be the most comfortable and reassuring place to manage catheter care.

Dementia can make it harder for someone to understand why a catheter is there, and they may pull at tubing because it feels unfamiliar, uncomfortable or simply in the way. We approach this with patience and gentle reassurance, not confrontation. Practical steps can include clothing that covers the tubing, repositioning the bag for comfort, or providing soothing activities to keep hands busy. Our team can integrate catheter routines into broader specialist dementia care at home, using familiar routines, calm communication and collaboration with nurses to reduce distress for everyone involved.

Each visit is shaped around your needs, but there are some common tasks we can support with. These may include helping you wash and dry the skin around the catheter site, ensuring the tube and bag are positioned comfortably, emptying or changing drainage bags and recording urine if requested by your nurse. We can remind you to drink regularly, support toilet or commode transfers, and help with changing clothes or bedding if leaks occur. At the same time, we’ll chat with you about how you’re feeling, check for any signs of infection or discomfort, and offer reassurance and practical tips for between visits, all while protecting your dignity and privacy.

We proudly provide high-quality home care across the East Midlands, in an around the towns and cities detailed below.