Urinary incontinence is pathologic, and not a normal consequence of ageing. Urinary incontinence is both under-reported and under diagnosed by health care providers. Health care providers tend not to ask the individual about incontinence, probably because they believe that many people would mention it as a problem; again, however, our community often considers incontinence a normal result of aging, rather than something that can be treated. Risk factors for urinary incontinence include neurologic impairment, immobility, and female gender and lifestyle. The impact of urinary incontinence is broad and encompasses health, economic, psychological and social issues. Although urinary incontinence is most often seen in older adults, it can be seen in persons of any age, including both males and females as well as children. You can help – here’s how: Tips on helping someone who has shown signs of incontinence: Fluid intake – Ensure adequate and appropriate fluid intake. Good bladder health – adequate fluid intake, don’t go to toilet on first urge, ensure pelvic floor exercises are adhered to and sitting on the toilet in the ideal or correct position. Good bowel health – diet/fluid intake – go to toilet on first urge, ensure correct sitting techniques are utilized – exercise. Exercise – even gentle structured exercise activity helps with overall tone and health of whole body. Water sports, particularly hydrotherapy, are extremely beneficial (especially for those with limited or restricted movement)....

It is a common misconception that those with a disability have to be treated differently to have their health needs met. From a continence perspective, continence treatment or management is no different for the person with the disability than it is for the average person in the community. It may require modifications and strategies that need to tailored to meet their specific needs.

You may be eligible for a continence aid subsidy scheme which entitles you to continence products and aids. Continence aids will not cure or fix incontinence but will assist in enhancing your confidence and self esteem contributing to a positive impact on your quality of life. We are here to provide you with any assistance you may require in the selection of the right aid if needed or the completion of subsidy applications (Qld only). Please note – all applications require a continence assessment to be completed by a continence practitioner such as a continence nurse advisor, continence physiotherapist or doctor etc. To locate your nearest continence practitioner, please contact the National Continence Helpline on (freecall) 1800 33 00 66 for referral details. What is a continence aid subsidy? It is a scheme that is funded by either federal or state territory governments to subsidise expenses associated with the heatlh concern of incontinence. You may be eligible for both levels of funding. Click on the buttons below to find out the eligibility requirements and...

Bed-wetting (technical name: nocturnal enuresis) in children is common. It can happen just now and then or it can happen several times a night. It is more common in boys and tends to run in families. Being unable to control the bladder while asleep can be embarrassing and stressful for your child. Contrary to oft-voiced lay opinion, bed-wetting is not a result of deep sleep, laziness, attention-seeking or deep-seated emotional disturbance, whilst it is difficult to say what does cause it, some say it relates to different rates of development of the juvenile nervous system. Rarely has it any medical cause. Daytime bladder control is achieved before night-time control and by age three – four most children are dry by day. By school age, most are dry at night, too. Occasional accidents night and day are normal in pre-schoolers. In an average-sized class of five-year-olds, at least five of the kids wet the bed at least twice a week. In a class of seven-year-olds, a couple of kids are still wetting twice a week. By age 10, there will still be one or two. Bed-wetting is common among children to about seven years of age, but can be damaging socially and emotionally if it persists beyond that age. When to seek help Continence advisors such as Terri-Ann deal with children’s wetting as a case of making the brain and the bladder learn to communicate, rather than as a psychological issue. If you are concerned about your child’s bed-wetting and would like to talk to us, please contact us by phone or by registering online for an appointment. We look forward to discussing your concerns with you. Tips for incontinence in children – you can make a difference Kids who wet the bed may have emotional baggage and feel sad, anxious and different to other children. It takes a patient and supportive parent to help put these negative feelings to rest. Here are some tips and ideas to help you help you and your child stay hopeful and confident. Learn all you can Start by learning as much as you can about nocturnal enuresis and how the urinary system works. This way, when your child has questions, you’ll be able to answer them, or know where to get the information your child needs. Share information with your child The kid’s section of the DryNites website (insert drynites website address) is a great place to start. Encourage your child to look in the kid’s section to learn more about bedwetting and to read about other kids who wet the bed and their experiences. Talk openly with your child Children who wet the bed can feel like they’ve failed their parents. It’s...