Urinary incontinence is prevalent in residential care and rates are expected to increase with the ageing population in Australia. It contributes to poor quality of life (QoL), functional impairments in activities of daily living, and deterioration of mental and sexual health. Management depends on the type of incontinence, its aetiology, the severity of symptoms, the effects on QoL, and patient factors. Treatment options include active treatment and passive containment. However, not all active treatment options are feasible in residential care. There is little evidence to advise on standard best practice.
The aims of this article are to review treatment options for urinary incontinence in residential care, feasibility of service delivery and challenges associated with this.
A greater understanding of the issues surrounding the management of urinary incontinence in residential care is required to deliver satisfactory patient-centred care on a consistent basis.
Australian family physician. 2016 Jul [Epub]
David S Lim