Incontinence

Bladder and bowel control problems (or incontinence) are sometimes referred to as having a “weak bladder” or “overactive bladder”, but also includes unwanted leakage from the bowel. Related problems are toilet frequency and urgency, constipation, haemorrhoids and wind.

Incontinence is a common health problem that affects around 3.8 million Australians from all walks of life. Proper assessment, treatment and good management can bring significant improvement in the quality of life for people with incontinence.

No problem is “too small to worry about” – so-called small problems have a habit of getting bigger! Seek help sooner rather than later. Incontinence can be a complex health condition with several factors interacting. For this reason, it’s best to seek professional advice and assessment.

About 1 in 3 women who ever had a baby have incontinence, with problems often recurring later in life. Men’s urinary symptoms often relate to prostate problems. Incontinence is often related to other health conditions (for example, diabetes, kidney problems, prostate, neurological conditions, chronic cough (eg asthma), or being overweight). It also may be related to medicines taken for these health problems. Check with your doctor.

There may be some simple strategies you can try at home to improve continence, including dietary changes, increasing fluid intake, changing the types of fluid you are drinking, bladder re-training or increasing levels of daily exercise. Check with your doctor or continence nurse to ensure you are following the basic guidelines for good bladder and bowel health.

A wide range of information and services are available to help those with incontinence, including the following:

• National Continence Helpline
• Bladder and Bowel website
• National Public Toilet Map website
• Continence Aids Assistance Scheme
• Continence Management and Advice Service (WA)

National Continence Helpline - 1800 33 00 66

The National Continence Helpline is an information and referral telephone service for people with incontinence and their carers. The Helpline is staffed by experienced Continence Nurse Advisers who provide a confidential, professional service for people with continence problems. There is a large range of free leaflets available covering many continence-related topics, including products, funding schemes information and details of local continence services.

Bladder and Bowel website

The Bladder and Bowel website is funded by the Australian Government under the National Continence Management Strategy. The website contains information & advice on the prevention and management of bladder control and bowel problems.

National Public Toilet Map website

The National Public Toilet Map website is funded by the Australian Government under the National Continence Management Strategy.

The National Public Toilet Map shows the location of more than 14,000 public and private toilet facilities across Australia. Details of toilet facilities can be found along major travel routes and on shorter journeys as well. Useful information is provided about each toilet, such as location, opening hours, availability of baby change rooms, accessibility for people with disabilities and the details of other nearby toilets.

Continence Aids Assistance Scheme (CAAS)

The Continence Aids Assistance Scheme (CAAS) assists eligible people who have permanent and severe incontinence to meet some of the costs of continence products. CAAS is administered on behalf of the Australian Government by Intouch, the commercial arm of the Spinal Injuries Association Incorporated. CAAS clients receive a subsidy of up to $470 per year on continence products ordered through Intouch.

More information on CAAS, including all eligibility details, can be found at the Bladder and Bowel website.

Continence Management and Advice Service (WA)

Silver Chain’s Continence Management and Advice Service (CMAS) is a community based service providing access to assessment and advice for people living in Western Australia who have a chronic incontinence condition. CMAS offers eligible people a product subsidy of up to $470 each year where continence aids are needed. Although a referral is not necessary to contact CMAS, Silver Chain recommends that people talk to their general practitioner about their condition. To be eligible for CMAS people must be aged over 18 years, have had a chronic incontinence condition for more than six months, are not receiving financial assistance for continence aids through any other schemes and reside in Western Australia.

To find out more information about CMAS call 1300 787 055 or visit the CMAS website.