It is important to remember that everyone with incontinence problems should be assessed by a continence health professional.
What’s involved in a continence assessment?
A Continence assessment will require you to visit a continence health professional. You will be asked to share your story and asked to fill out a chart to show when you pass urine (wee) or have a bowel motion (poo). A physical examination is likely as this will help the health professional to know what kind of continence problem you have.
Once the type and causes of the problem have been identified the continence health professional can develop a management strategy for your needs.
Questions Asked
These are the sorts of questions that you may be asked during a continence assessment:
- How often do you go to the toilet?
- How much urine (wee) do you pass?
- What do your bowel motions (poo) look like?
- How often and how much do you leak urine?
- What is your fluid and diet intake?
- What medications are you currently taking?
- Do you have any other health problems?
- Are you able to take yourself to the toilet, dress yourself and keep yourself clean?
Bladder and Bowel Charts
You will be asked to fill out a chart to keep track of when you or the person you care for passes urine (wee) or has a bowel action (poo). Keeping a bladder diary or bowel diary over three consecutive days will help a continence health professional in their assessment.
To find a continence health professional near you please contact the Continence Foundation of Australia. Their helpline phone number is 1 800 33 00 66.
