TEST YOUR UI KNOWLEDGE…
(circle your answer)
1. Incontinence (loss of urine)
is the second leading cause
of institutionalization of the
elderly.
True False
2. Increasing age brings about
incontinence.
True False
3. Pelvic floor muscle weakness
in women can lead to urinary
incontinence.
True False
Family & Provider
4. Caffeine is a bladder irritant
True False
and will cause urinary urgency
and frequency.
5. Nocturia (needing to urinate
during the nighttime hours of
sleep) is often seen in older
adults.
True False
6. Kegel (pelvIc floor muscle)
exercises can and should be
done only by women.
True False
7. Older adults are usually
incontinent.
True False
8. The bladder capacity in an
older adult is greater than that
of a younger person.
True False
Information on
Urinary Incontinence
and Indwelling
See answers inside - under HOW
FAMILIES CAN HELP…
Catheters
This brochure is a resource guide for
families and providers of nursing home
residents – a collaborative effort of the
MDH and Co-Sponsors:
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Care Providers of Minnesota
ElderCare Rights Alliance
Empira Inc.
MN Directors of Nursing Association
MN Health and Housing Alliance
MN Medial Directors Association
Stratis Health
The Office of Ombudsman for Older
Minnesotans
A MDH and Provider
Collaboration for
Quality Improvement
Collaborating on Provider
Quality Improvement
Projects
IMPORTANT FACTS:
√
√
•
As the State Survey Agency, MDH’s
primary function is to monitor compliance
with federal certification standards.
•
MDH will work to further strengthen its
√
relationship and engage providers and
advocacy organizations in mutual efforts
to promote and support the adoption of
clinical best practices in long-term care
√
settings.
•
Joint training opportunities will be sought
√
to assure that state surveyors, providers
and advocates share a common
understanding of current best practices
and how to achieve them.
•
THIS INITIATIVE IS CENTERED AROUND
URINARY INCONTINENCE AND
CATHETERS IN NURSING HOME
SETTINGS.
√
Although aging affects the urinary tract
and increases the potential for urinary
incontinence, urinary incontinence is NOT
a normal part of aging.
Articles and data currently available,
including Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS) data, indicate
that more than 50% of the nursing home
population experience some degree of
urinary incontinence.
Urinary incontinence is a symptom of a
condition and may be reversible and is
usually treatable. It is important to
understand the causes of incontinence
prior to starting treatment.
A urinary tract infection (UTI’) is one of
the most common infections occurring in
nursing homes and is often related to
indwelling urinary catheters.
Various factors common to elderly
individuals may increase the risk of
infections: underlying diseases (diabetes),
medications
(steroids/chemotherapy/history of
multiple antibiotic usage), conditions that
cause incontinence, and indwelling urinary
catheters.
Hand washing remains one of the most
effective infection control methods
available to prevent infections.
Alternative measures for
residents with urinary
incontinence:
♥
Behavioral Programs
♥
Medication Therapy
♥
Pelvic Floor Muscle Rehabilitation
♥
Prompted Voiding
♥
Habit Training/Scheduled Voiding
♥
Intermittent Catheterization
♥
Pessary
♥
Appropriate Absorbent
Products/Toileting Devices
HOW FAMILIES CAN HELP…
⇒ Read this brochure
⇒ Attend Resident Care
⇒
⇒
⇒
⇒
⇒
⇒
Conferences
Inquire if your family member
has been offered alternative
measures
Offer support for resident
toileting programs
Be aware of resident fluid intake,
per resident’s condition and plan
of care
Strive to keep resident clean and
encourage good hand washing
Observe staff interactions
Report concerns to nursing staff
Answers: 1. True 2. False 3. True 4. True
5. True 6. False 7. False 8. False