The process of producing urine, storing urine, and eliminating urine is amazingly complex.  It involves the function and co-ordination of the brain and the spinal cord, intact nerves and muscles, a functioning bladder, and the unobstructed flow of urine through the lower urinary tract.

Urinary incontinence is a devastating problem affecting some 10 million Americans.  The major approaches to the management of urinary incontinence are long-term efforts through an interdisciplinary approach.  A multitude of incontinence products play a vital role in the treatment and management of the various types of urinary incontinence.  There are many modalities of treatment which depend upon the “type” of urinary incontinence as well as the individual attributes of the patient.  Appropriate use of incontinence products are essential adjuncts to successful treatment and/or management of the incontinent person.

Many people with incontinence pull away from their family and friends.  They try to hide the problem from everyone, even their doctors.  The good news is that in most cases urinary incontinence can be treated and controlled, if not cured.  The bad news is that caregivers may not know that treatment is a choice.  They may think that nursing home care is the only answer for an older person with incontinence.

Incontinence does not happen because of aging.  It may be caused by changes in your body due to disease.  For example, incontinence may be the first and only symptom of a urinary tract infection.  Curing the infection may relieve or cure the problem.  Some drugs may cause incontinence or make it worse. If you are having trouble with incontinence, see your doctor.  Even if it can’t be completely cured, modern products and ways of managing incontinence can ease its discomfort and inconvenience.

HomeHealthDelivery.com can assist you with the inconvenience associated with incontinence. Contact one of our highly qualified consultants to discuss your current situation and to implement a care plan specifically deigned for your situation.

What can I do to manage my incontinence while I try to get it under control?

When pharmacological and/or behavioral methods fail to manage urinary incontinence, various products are beneficial to contain urine, protect skin, and reduce odor.  The following are the most common products used in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home.

Catheters:
Indwelling (Foley), Straight (Intermittent), and External (condom) catheters have a place in the management of urinary incontinence. A flexible tube (indwelling catheter) can be put into the urethra (the canal that carries the urine from the bladder) to collect urine in a container. Long term catheterization although sometimes necessary creates many problems, including urinary infections. Men have the choice of an external collecting device (condom catheter). This is fitted over the penis and connected to a drainage bag.

Adult Diapers and Briefs:
These absorbent products are designed to hold large volumes of urine and are for individuals who are incontinent of urine and stool. Adult Briefs are designed and used similarly to diapers placed on infants. Briefs made of absorbent material similar to underwear may be preferred due to psycho-social reasons.

2-Piece Pants and Liners:
This product includes a pair of reusable cotton pants or disposable mesh type pants into which an absorbent liner is placed and secured. When soiled, the liner is discarded and the pant is laundered. The 2-piece pant and liner can be used for both urinary and fecal incontinence and may be preferred by the ambulatory patient.

Underpads:
This product is an absorbable pad which is placed on the bed beneath the patient’s mid-section. The underpad protects the linens and is commonly used for the incontinent bed bound patient and to protect the bedding. Underpads are available in disposable or reusable types.

Skin Cleanser:
These are non-soap products which contain a surfactant to loosen or emulsify urine/feces without irritation to the skin. Most available cleansers DO NOT need to be rinsed which is a desirable feature for the caregiver.

Washcloths and Wipes:
These are reusable or disposable cloths used to cleanse the patient’s skin after an incontinent episode. Cloths which minimize the amount of friction injury to the skin during cleansing are most desirable.

Moisture Barrier Ointments:
These topical skin products contain petrolatum or a similar substance which forms a protective, moisture resistant barrier on the skin. Application of a moisture barrier ointment after cleansing is recommended as a preventative skin care measure for the patient with incontinence.

Call us with any questions about the products we offer and if we do not have it and you want it, we will get it for you.

Urinary incontinence can run the gamut from light drainage of urine that moistens ones under- clothes to thorough saturation where large volumes of urine is expelled. The Agency For Health Care Policy and Research and the American Urological Association have determined six distinct “types” of urinary incontinence. Of utmost importance is the understanding that more than one “type” of incontinence can occur simultaneously in the same individual. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment of so called “mixed” incontinence is somewhat more challenging.

Stress Incontinence:
Stress incontinence occurs when some physical exertion such as exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting heavy objects, or other body movements that put pressure on the bladder and produces leakage of urine. The cause of stress incontinence is the weakening of the pelvic musculature which commonly occurs in women after having children and in post- menopausal women. It is the most common type of incontinence and can almost always be cured.

Urge Instability Incontinence:
In this type of incontinence, the bladder contracts spontaneously WITHOUT the control of the individual. This uncontrolled bladder contraction results in the leakage of urine. With urge incontinence, however, the individual has the sensation to urinate, but cannot reach the bathroom in time. Sensation is usually followed by immediate release of urine. Although healthy people can have urge incontinence, it is often found in people who have diabetes, stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis. It can also be a warning sign of early bladder cancer. In men, it is often a sign of an enlarged prostate.

Reflex Instability Incontinence:
In reflex incontinence, the bladder empties itself at unpredictable times causing gross leakage of urine. In this instance, however, the individual does NOT have sensation or urgency. Neurological disorders and injuries to the upper spinal cord are the most common reasons for reflex incontinence.

Overflow Incontinence:
Leakage or wetness occurs because the bladder is unable to empty effectively. This type of incontinence is associated with high residual volumes of urine after voiding. Individuals may also complain of nocturnia (urination at night) and the feeling that the bladder does not feel empty after urination. Some causes of overflow incontinence are chronic retention of urine and bladder outlet obstruction. In older men, this can occur when the flow of urine from the bladder is blocked.

Continuous Incontinence:
This type of incontinence is associated with leakage of urine proximal to the lower urinary tract. Continuous incontinence occurs with urinary fistula, birth defects of the urinary tract, and urinary diversion such as urostomy.

Functional Incontinence:
This type of incontinence is the one most commonly associated with the elderly. It may be caused by obstacles in the environment which make it difficult for the elderly person to make it to the bathroom on time as well as by cognitive and physical functional degeneration as seen in Alzheimer’s Disease. There is no associated pathophysiology of the urinary tract in an individual with functional incontinence.

The process of producing urine, storing urine, and eliminating urine is amazingly complex. It involves the function and co-ordination of the brain and the spinal cord, intact nerves and muscles, a functioning bladder, and the unobstructed flow of urine through the lower urinary tract.

Urinary incontinence is a devastating problem affecting some 10 million Americans. The major approaches to the management of urinary incontinence are long-term efforts through an interdisciplinary approach. A multitude of incontinence products play a vital role in the treatment and management of the various types of urinary incontinence. There are many modalities of treatment which depend upon the “type” of urinary incontinence as well as the individual attributes of the patient. Appropriate use of incontinence products are essential adjuncts to successful treatment and/or management of the incontinent person.

Many people with incontinence pull away from their family and friends. They try to hide the problem from everyone, even their doctors. The good news is that in most cases urinary incontinence can be treated and controlled, if not cured. The bad news is that caregivers may not know that treatment is a choice. They may think that nursing home care is the only answer for an older person with incontinence.

Incontinence does not happen because of aging. It may be caused by changes in your body due to disease. For example, incontinence may be the first and only symptom of a urinary tract infection. Curing the infection may relieve or cure the problem. Some drugs may cause incontinence or make it worse.

If you are having trouble with incontinence, see your doctor. Even if it can’t be completely cured, modern products and ways of managing incontinence can ease its discomfort and inconvenience.