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These articles will help you gain a solid understanding of incontinence and continence care. You can discover the different types of incontinence, their causes and the most effective way to manage them. You can also benefit from best practice care routines – from carrying out continence assessments to providing toileting support and maintaining skin health.

Learn more about incontinence

What is urinary incontinence?

Incontinence can refer to both urinary incontinence and bowel incontinence. Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine, while bowel incontinence is the involuntary loss of solid or liquid stool. This page focuses on the different types of urinary incontinence and what causes them. Because to provide the right care, you must understand the type of urinary incontinence you are dealing with.

The key to managing and preventing bowel incontinence

What is bowel incontinence, and what are its symptoms?

Understanding continence care

Incontinence is more common than people think with more than 400 million people affected worldwide. Roughly 1 in 3 woman over the age of 35 and around 1 in 4 men over 40 experience some kind of urinary leakage. And while fewer people experience bowel incontinence, the effect on their lives is equally devastating.

Common myths about incontinence

There are many myths circulating in the broader community about incontinence. Incontinence is a condition that it is not widely discussed in the community, amongst family, friends, colleagues, or professionals. It is also a topic, that individuals with this condition, struggle to even discuss with their general practitioner (GP). This lack of “broader” conversation around this condition, has led to many misconceptions being circulated and perpetuated. Here we address the myths.

The emotional impact of incontinence

Living with incontinence is physically challenging and can be exhausting for many. As Health care professionals you are used to dealing with the complex ’physical issues’ however, equally important is the psychological status of your clients or patients.

Helping Carers Cope

Carers play a vital role in supporting an individual to remain living at home, and although rewarding, can be confusing and exhausting. Many carers play a key role in managing the incontinence of a loved one and may be the key to the success of any continence plans.

Functional Incontinence

This term is used to describe a person who has a normal functioning bladder or bowel but are unable to access or find the toilet, and therefore have an episode of urinary or faecal incontinence.

Best practice care routines

Caregiving and night incontinence

If you are providing night care to patients, residents or clients who are incontinent, or need support to remain continent, it's important have effective tools and tricks at your disposal that are based on an understanding of the functions of sleep, and the effects of sleep deprivation. In this article you'll find useful information on a range of these topics, all of which are aimed at one simple goal: a better night's sleep for your patient, resident or client..

Toileting support for residents with incontinence

There are several conditions and disabilities that can make it challenging to remain continent or to reach the toilet in time. Toileting helps prevent falls, maintains dignity and independence, and improves quality of life for residents. It also leads to fewer product changes, fewer products used and less waste. These dos and don’ts can help make toileting easier for caregivers and prevent incontinence in residents. 

Skin health – an essential part of continence care

As we get older, our skin naturally becomes more fragile. As a result, it becomes more prone to infection and irritation and is sensitive to excessive moisture and prolonged contact with urine or faeces. To help protect fragile skin against injury and prevent infection, skin health should always be an essential part of an effective continence care routine.

Practical incontinence advice for managing patients and residents

We have gathered much insight and knowledge from our many years of working in the field of continence care and personal hygiene.

Incontinence - A delicate subject to discuss

Incontinence can be a delicate subject for all of us, not just for the people affected. Together, let us remove the stigma of embarrassment and make them feel more at ease and ready to accept treatment.

Managing continence whilst on holidays

For some travelling with incontinence can induce worry, rest assured travelling is possible with TENA products and some helpful hints along the way.