br br As men get older, they are more likely they are to have such problems. That means a caregiver's elderly fathers have a higher probability of prostate problems. br br Most prostate problems are not cancer. br br The prostate is a gland. It makes fluid that becomes part of semen, the white fluid that contains sperm. The prostate lies low in the body — in front of the rectum and below the bladder (where urine is stored). It surrounds the tube that carries urine away from the bladder (urethra). br br In younger men, the prostate is about the size of a walnut. It slowly grows larger as men get older. If the prostate gets too large, it can cause urinary problems. Infection or cancer in the prostate can also cause urinary and other problems. Often, elderly men notice symptoms themselves, and sometimes their doctor finds something during a routine check-up. br br There are several different kinds of prostate problems. Only a doctor can tell one from another. That's why your elderly parent's needs to see a if something doesn't seem right -- or if you as a caregiver notice he is having troubling urinating. br br Common Urinary Problems in Elderly Men br br These problems are not cancer. Acute prostatitis is an infection of the prostate caused by bacteria. It usually starts all of a sudden. It can cause fever, chills, or pain in the lower back and between the legs. It can cause pain when your aging dad urinates. If your father has these symptoms, see your doctor right away. Antibiotic drugs can kill the bacteria and help him feel better. br br Chronic prostatitis is an infection of the prostate that keeps coming back time after time. This problem can be hard to treat. Sometimes, taking antibiotics for a long time may work. Talk with your doctor about other things you can do to help your elderly father feel better. br br Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is very common in older men. The prostate is enlarged, but it is not cancerous. Over time, an enlarged prostate may press against the urethra, making it hard to urinate. It may cause dribbling after an elder urinates or a need to urinate often, especially at night. Your doctor will do a rectal exam to check for BPH. And your elderly father may need to have special x-rays or scans to check his urethra, prostate, and bladder.