Home Health Aide On The Go In Service Lessons Vol 12 Issue 3 Incontinence

Contrary to popular belief, incontinence--the loss of bladder or bowel control--is not normal. Although the likelihood of incontinence increases as an individual gets older, it is not a regular part of aging. In older patients, incontinence commonly involves more than one cause. Often, scheduled toileting, prompted voiding, or habit-training methods can be used to manage the causes and reduce incontinence episodes. Patients who experience urinary or BI are not at fault. Incontinence is not a sign of laziness or carelessness. Afflicted patients suffer from a health problem that, like other disorders, is caused by certain ailments and can be managed with the use of specific treatments. A complete understanding of the condition will allow HHAs to provide the highest level of care to incontinent patients. LESSON OBJECTIVES After completion of this program, the home health aide will be able to: Identify the common causes of urinary and bowel incontinence (UI and BI, respectively) Recognize the types of UI Provide incontinent patients with the highest level of care Contents of this lesson: A clearly written fact sheet A 10-question post-test to measure understanding of the subject matter An answer sheet with a place for the instructor's comments and signature An illustrative, homecare-specific case study Suggested supplemental learning activities An attendance log and certificate of completion