Incontinence means any involuntary or accidental leakage of urine or faeces. Incontinence can occur in men or women of any age, but people who are elderly or have a chronic health problem are at increased risk.
Continence assessment
There are different types and causes of incontinence. A continence assessment can help establish a plan to meet the individual needs of the resident.
Information collected during a continence assessment may include:
- the person’s medical history
- how often the person urinates (wees) and defecates (poos)
- a rough estimate of the amount of urine passed
- visual description of the faeces
- whether the leakage is urine or faeces
- details of diet and fluid intake
- list of medications including prescription, over-the-counter and herbal preparations
- current health concerns
- self-care abilities – for example, whether the person can feed, dress and bathe on their own
- whether or not the person recognises their need to go to the toilet or remembers the location of the toilet.
Tests or investigations performed during an assessment can include a urine test and an ultrasound of the bladder (performed on the skin surface below the belly button).
