Try These Incontinence Intervention Strategies
Did you know: Incontinent patients experience more frequent falls? As a patient advocate, you should initiate interventions to mitigate incontinence whenever possible, says
Incontinence can contribute to fall risk by creating hazards in a variety of ways. Not making it to the toilet in time can cause slippery wet floor surfaces. Rushing to the toilet due to urge incontinence can put a patient at risk. And patients with nocturia (waking to void at night) suffer from interrupted sleep which can be another fall risk.
If you are caring for a patient who is incontinent, consider the following intervention strategies, Jump suggests:
- Further assessment using a pelvic floor questionnaire.
Consider pelvic floor biofeedback.
Consider physical therapy for strengthening the pelvic floor (unless known structural incompetence of urethral sphincter).
- The effect of medication on incontinence.
Diuretics may contribute to incontinence.
Medications may be used to treat urgency.
- Assessing fluid intake type and amounts.
Caffeine, carbonated beverages and alcohol may increase bladder irritability and urgency.
Encourage proper fluid intake.
- Bladder retraining.
- Occupational therapy for exercise to rebalance the pelvic rotator cuff to manage leakage.
- Targeted patient education related to incontinence.
