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Urinary Catheter Care at Home: Keeping It Clean and Safe

Many families bring a loved one home from hospital with a urinary catheter in place. It can feel worrying at first, but with a few simple habits, catheter care at home becomes part of the daily routine. This guide covers cleaning, the drainage bag, and the warning signs that mean you should call the doctor.

What Is an Indwelling Urinary Catheter?

A urinary catheter is a thin, flexible tube that drains urine from the bladder into a bag. An indwelling catheter (often called a Foley catheter) stays in place for days or weeks. It is held inside the bladder by a small balloon filled with water, which is why it does not slip out.

A doctor may advise a catheter when a person has difficulty passing urine on their own, during recovery from surgery, or, in some cases, for bladder problems such as incontinence when other treatments have not worked. A catheter is usually put in by a doctor or nurse.

The main risk with any catheter is infection of the urine passages, bladder or, less often, the kidneys. The risk rises the longer a catheter stays in. Good hygiene at home helps reduce this risk.

Start With Clean Hands

Wash your hands well with soap and water before and after touching the catheter, the tubing or the bag. Clean between the fingers and under the nails.

Daily Cleaning Around the Catheter

• Wash the skin where the catheter enters the body every day with mild soap and water, and more often if it gets soiled.
• Clean the tube gently, wiping along it away from the body, never towards it.
• Do not use creams, powders or sprays near the area unless the doctor or nurse has advised them.

Looking After the Drainage Bag

Most people use a smaller leg bag during the day and a larger night bag while sleeping.

• Keep the bag below the level of the bladder at all times, including while sleeping and while emptying it. This stops urine flowing back into the bladder.
• Empty the bag before it gets full. Open the tap at the bottom over the toilet or a clean container, without disconnecting the bag from the catheter. Do not let the tap touch the toilet or other surfaces.
• At night, hang the night bag on a stand next to the bed, low down but not lying on the floor.
• Keep the system closed. Leave the catheter connected to the bag as much as possible, and only change or switch bags the way the nurse has shown you.
• Change bags as often as the nurse advises. Some bags are single-use and others are changed after a set number of days. Change a bag sooner if it smells bad or looks dirty.

Preventing Kinks and Pulling

• Check the tubing for kinks or bends regularly, and after the person changes position. A kinked tube stops urine draining.
• Secure the tube and leg bag to the leg with the straps or holder provided, leaving a little slack so the tube does not pull.
• Take care when moving the patient, for example when turning them in bed or helping them to a chair, so the tube is not tugged or trapped.
• Never try to pull the catheter out or remove it yourself. Accidental pulling can cause pain and bleeding.

Fluids and Bowel Habits

Drinking enough fluids keeps urine flowing and helps the catheter drain well. A useful sign is urine that stays a pale colour. However, some people, for example those with certain heart or kidney conditions, are asked to limit fluids, so always follow the amount the doctor advises.

Try to avoid constipation. Fluids and fibre from fruit, vegetables and whole grains can help, within the diet the doctor has advised.

When Does the Catheter Need Changing?

A long-term catheter is replaced at regular intervals, often at least every three months, or sooner if there is a problem. The doctor decides the schedule. Changing a catheter should be done by a trained nurse or doctor. Families should not attempt it unless a doctor or nurse has specifically trained them to do so.

Warning Signs: When to Call the Doctor

Contact the treating doctor or nurse promptly if you notice:

• Fever, chills, or feeling hot, cold or shivery
• Cloudy, bad-smelling or unusually coloured urine
• Blood in the urine, or grit or clots in the tube
• Pain in the lower tummy, groin, sides or lower back, or a burning feeling in the bladder
• Pain, discharge or soreness where the catheter enters the body
• Urine leaking around the catheter
• New confusion, or the person seems unusually tired or “not themselves”
• The catheter has come out

If no urine is draining, first check that the tube is not kinked or trapped and that the bag is below the bladder. If urine still does not flow, the catheter may be blocked: get medical help as soon as possible rather than waiting.

When to Call 112

An infection can sometimes become serious. Call 112 straight away if the person:

• Is breathing very fast
• Is confused, has slurred speech or is not making sense
• Has blue, pale or blotchy skin
• Has a rash that does not fade when you press it
• Has a very high or very low temperature and seems very unwell

Read more in our guide on what to do in a medical emergency at home.

How OSVI Healthcare Helps With Catheter Care

• Nurses at home: OSVI’s background-verified nurses provide urinary catheter care at home and can show family members how to clean the area and manage the bags safely. Care is available as hourly visits or in 12-hour or 24-hour shifts.
• Doctor visits at home: if you notice warning signs, a general physician can visit the home, examine the patient and give a prescription and follow-up.
• Lab tests at home: if the doctor orders tests, samples can be collected at home, with reports sent on WhatsApp and email.
• One point of contact: a care manager coordinates the care, our care team is available 24×7, and care plans are supervised by a qualified doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a person with a catheter take a bath or shower?

Daily washing of the area with mild soap and water is part of normal catheter care. Ask the doctor or nurse whether showering or bathing is suitable for the patient and how to keep the bag secure while washing.

Is it normal to see a little blood or debris in the tube?

Small amounts of blood or debris in the tube are common with an indwelling catheter. Contact the doctor or nurse if you see more blood than usual, clots, or grit, or if the catheter stops draining.

How often should the drainage bag be emptied?

Empty it before it becomes full, several times a day, and whenever the nurse advises. Keep it below the bladder while emptying.

Can we change the catheter at home ourselves?

No, not without specific training. Catheter changes should be done by a trained nurse or doctor, on the schedule the doctor sets.

This article is provided for general information and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Every patient’s situation is different, so please consult a qualified doctor for guidance specific to you. In a medical emergency, call 112.