The term incontinence refers to involuntary or accidental loss of either urine (urinary incontinence) from the bladder, or bowel motion (bowel incontinence).
Seven Types of Urinary Incontinence
Here’s some help to determine if your parent has an incontinence problem:
- Transient incontinence is typically the result of a temporary change such as urinary tract infection, medications, or severe constipation.
- Stress incontinence is most common in women whose bladder muscles are weakened.
- Overflow incontinence is the type of incontinence more common in elderly men who may have enlarged prostate glands.
- Urge incontinence causes people to feel an “urgent” need to urinate due to muscle spasms in the bladder.
- Total incontinence means urine leaks constantly; it is usually caused by injury.
- Mixed incontinence, in which there are several factors or causes involved, is also possible. For example, many older women suffer from both urge and stress incontinence.
- Psychogenic incontinence is the loss of urinary control caused by the person’s emotional state.
Fecal incontinence
The loss of control of bowel movements. It can range from an occasional leakage of a small amount of stool to complete loss of bowel control. Constipation and diarrhea can cause fecal incontinence.
While incontinence may cause embarrassment, it is actually quite common. Fortunately, there are a number of advocacy groups, organizations, & government agencies dedicated to managing and treating incontinence. These groups contribute vast amounts of knowledge, resources, information, and support, as seen below:
Urinary Incontinence
- ACOG Urinary incontinence: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/urinary-incontinence
- American Urological Association (AUA): https://www.auanet.org/
- American Urological Association–Urology Patient education materials: https://www.urologyhealth.org/educational-materials
- American Urogynecologic Society: https://www.augs.org/
- Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support (APOP): https://www.pelvicorganprolapsesupport.org/
- Continence Central: https://continencecentral.org/
- Diaper Bank Listing for US: https://www.healthcentral.com/category/incontinence
- ICN Network: https://www.ic-network.com
- International Continence Society (ICS): https://www.ics.org
- International Urogynecological Association: https://www.iuga.org
- Interstitial Cystitis Association of America (ICA): https://www.ichelp.org
- MedMark Urology Links: https://www.medmark.org/uro/urol.html
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/
- National Institute on Aging (NIA): https://www.nia.nih.gov/
- Pull-Through Network: http://www.PullthruNetwork.org
- Simon Foundation: https://simonfoundation.org/
- Social Security Disability Resource Center: http://www.ssdrc.com
- SUNA - Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates: https://www.suna.org/
- Underactive Bladder Foundation: http://www.underactivebladder.org
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center - Incontinence Info: https://utswmed.org/conditions-treatments/incontinence/
- Urology Care Foundation: http://www.urologyhealth.org/
- Virginia Urology Center, The: http://www.uro.com/
- Women's Health: https://www.wdxcyber.com/mincont.htm
- World Federation of Incontinent Patients (WFIPP): https://wfipp.org
Fecal Incontinence
- About Incontinence: https://aboutincontinence.org/
- American College of Gastroenterology: https://gi.org/patients/gi-health-and-disease/
- Association for the Bladder Exstrophy Community (A-BE-C): https://www.bladderexstrophy.com/
- Fecal Incontinence in Nursing Home Resident: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2614622/
- IBS Impact: http://www.ibsimpact.com/
- IBS Tales: http://www.ibstales.com/
- International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders: https://www.iffgd.org/
- International Painful Bladder Foundation: http://www.painful-bladder.org/
- Medhelp: https://www.medhelp.org/
- Paraquad: http://www.paraquad.org/
- The North American Restroom Association: http://www.americanrestroom.org
- Youth Rally: http://www.youthrally.org
Ostomy Links
- Friends of Ostomates: http://www.fowusa.org/
- GoodHealthwill: https://www.goodhealthwill.org/
- Ostomy Pockets: https://ostomypockets.com/
- United Ostomy Associations of America: https://www.ostomy.org/
- Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN): https://www.wocn.org/
Medical Links
- All Nurses: http://allnurses.com/
- Alzheimer's Association: http://www.alz.org/
- AMA - American Medical Association: https://www.ama-assn.org/
- American Academy of Pediatrics: https://www.aap.org/
- American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/
- American Childhood Cancer Society: http://acco.org/
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): https://www.acog.org/
- American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org/
- American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/
- Aquatic Rehabilitation: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/rehabilitation/services/aquatic
- BIG EYE's Medical and Disability Resources: http://www.bigeye.com/disabili.htm
- CDC Office on Disability and Health: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/index.html
- Center for Hyperhidrosis: http://www.sweaty-palms.com/
- Contract Physical Therapy: http://www.synertx.com/
- Disability Related Products/Services: https://www.makoa.org/cmpyinfo.htm
- Disease Resources: http://www.disease-resources.com/
- HealingWell.com: http://www.healingwell.com/
- Healthlinks.net: http://www.healthlinks.net/
- Homecare Online: http://www.nahc.org/
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome Group: https://www.ibsgroup.org/
- Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/
- NAELA: https://www.naela.org/
- National Association for Home Care and Hospice: http://www.nahc.org/
- SageMinder: http://www.sageminder.com/
- Salvi Law - Embrace Your Space: https://www.salvilaw.com/embracing-your-space/
- Soiling Solutions: http://www.encopresis.com/
- Special Needs Family Fun: http://www.specialneedsfamilyfun.com/
- The Conversation Project: http://theconversationproject.org/
Other Links
- Born to Love: http://www.borntolove.com/d-list1.shtml
- Caregiver Action Network: http://caregiveraction.org/
- Choice and Preference Toileting Assistance (CAPTA) Training Manual: http://www.cas.miamioh.edu/bridgeproject/capta_manual.htm
Additional information can be found here: http://www.cas.miamioh.edu/bridgeproject/capta_schedule.htm - CMS State Operations Manual, Interpretive Guidelines for F-315: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107ap_pp_guidelines_ltcf.pdf (pages 266-301)
- Families for Depression Awareness: http://www.familyaware.org/
- Financial Aid for Disabled Students: https://www.onlineschools.org/financial-aid/disabilities
- Guardian Nurses: https://www.guardiannurses.com/
- Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing: https://hign.org/
- HealthFinder.gov: https://health.gov/myhealthfinder
- Healthy Women: https://www.healthywomen.org/
- Incontinence Resource Manual: https://www.shoppathwayhealth.com/incontinence-quickpath/
- Managing Life with Incontinence: http://www.managinglifewithincontinence.org/
- National Association for Continence (NAFC): http://www.nafc.org/
- Save on Medical Bills: https://www.medicalcostadvocate.com
- SpinalCord: http://www.uab.edu/medicine/sci/
- Worldwide Cloth Diapering Resources: http://www.borntolove.com/d-list1.shtml
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