A Good Option for Geriatric Patients with Incontinence

September 2025

Urinary incontinence (UI) alone ranks as an important clinical entity for many geriatric patients. It is reported to have a larger effect on health-related quality of life than diabetes or arthritis.¹ The seriousness of the condition may feel undermined by its prevalence. More than one in ten Medicare records show a UI diagnosis, and the actual prevalence is believed to be much higher.² To our elderly patients, urinary incontinence is much worse than a prevalent nuisance. Urinary incontinence negatively affects the psychosocial health of patients and results in reduced physical activity (as a self-imposed management strategy), reduced social activity, reduced leisure and travel, lowered self-esteem, and diminished sense of self-efficacy. Urinary incontinence has been connected with increased risk of fall injuries, pressure ulcers, UTI, and institutionalization.^3,4 When the underlying pelvic floor muscle weakness is not addressed, mild UI becomes progressively more serious in nine out of ten cases.⁵  

The majority of women over the age of 56 have UI, but only one in five receive treatment.⁵ This disparity underscores the importance of including questions about incontinence as part of routine assessments in primary care. When you discover untreated, burdensome UI in homebound patients, refer to Ideal Home Care for continence rehabilitation, including training in behavioral strategies and exercises. Behavioral therapy stands out as an important component of UI treatment in adults. For instance, behavioral therapy alone proves more effective toward improvement or cure than pharmacologic therapies alone.⁶ However, historically, rehabilitation approaches for urinary incontinence work dramatically better when patients have ongoing professional guidance, supervision, and coaching. Compared to patients who received some sort of initial training and literature for a “self-help program,” patients receiving ongoing supervision demonstrate a 37% increase in the degree of success or more.^7,8  

Ideal Home Care’s Continence Rehabilitation Can Include:

• Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises: We guide patients through exercises that train them to maintain control in a variety of postures and relevant activities.
• Diet Modifications
• Voiding Schedules
• Bladder Retraining
• Follow-Up and Coaching