Although managing behavior can be effective in reducing incontinence among elderly women who lived on their own in the community, it isn't the perfect solution to their urinary problems.

Involuntary loss of urine affects an estimated 15% to 35% of people over age 65 living in the community. Women are more likely to have this problem than men.

Identifying the type and cause of the incontinence is part of treatment. One type is a sudden, urgent loss of urine. Another is the loss of urine as a result of increased pressure in the abdomen because of exertion. Urine loss, too, can be related to physical or enforcement factors or is a mix of stress and sudden urge.

Changing behavior such as decreasing fluid intake has been shown to help stop incontinence. In an attempt to see which method was most effective, self-monitoring, scheduling regiments, and pelvic muscle exercise with biofeedback were taught to women 55 years of age or older who lived in North Florida who had incontinence. An attempt, too, was made to include two groups of elderly women. One group lived independently, while the other depended on caregivers for daily living help. Attempts to gather the second group were not successful.

The participants answered questions, kept diaries, and wore incontinence pads to measure urine loss. Information was gathered from May 1993 to December 1993.

Caregivers of incontinent elders might think urinary loss is part of the aging process and can't be managed. They might consider trying methods to stop the loss such as keeping track of episodes and successful methods such as the techniques used in this study to stop the loss.

EndNotes

#2051

Bear, M., Dwyer, J.W., Benveneste, D., Jett, K., & Dougherty, M. (1997). Home-based management of urinary incontinence: A pilot study with both frail and independent elders. Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing 24, 163-171.