Ipswich Continence & Wound Care

A continence assessment can help identify the cause of a person’s control issues so they can get the care and support they need to manage their incontinence. These assessments are carried out by specialised health professionals, such as a continence nurse. Depending on your condition, Allied Therapy Network can provide you with a nursing assessment for urinary incontinence, bowel incontinence, or both. 

Our continence assessments generally take 90 minutes to complete. During your appointment, our continence nurse will strive to identify the cause of your incontinence by gathering information about the following: 

• Your current bladder and bowel habits 

• How often your incontinence issues occur 

• The incontinence issues you experience 

• Any health issues you may have 

• Medications you currently take 

• Your diet and fluid intake 

• Your ability to take yourself to the toilet 

• Any health professionals and support 

       workers involved in your care 

 To help your nurse gather this information, you will be asked to answer some questions and fill out a chart detailing how frequently you use the toilet. Your continence nurse may also require you to complete a urine test and may request to perform a physical examination of your abdomen. Our continence assessments generally take about 90 minutes to complete. During your appointment, our continence nurse will strive to identify the cause of your incontinence by gathering information about the following:

• Your current bladder and bowel habits

• How often your incontinence issues occur

• The incontinence issues you experience

• Any health issues you may have

• Medications you currently take

• Your diet and fluid intake

• Your ability to take yourself to the toilet

• Any health professionals and support
       workers involved in your care

To help your nurse gather this information, you will be asked to answer some questions and fill out a chart detailing how frequently you use the toilet. Your continence nurse may also require you to complete a urine test and may request to perform a physical examination of your abdomen. 

To help you prepare for your continence assessment, there are some steps we recommend you take beforehand.  

 Prior to your appointment, it can be helpful for you to complete a bowel and bladder diary over a minimum of 3 days. This will help our clinical nurse consultant gain a better understanding of your condition and will also help you when filling out the chart detailing your recent toileting habits. 

 It can also be useful to collate a list of your health conditions, medications, and any other information about your medical history your continence nurse may find useful. 

Once we have the information needed to identify the cause of your incontinence, we will then work with you to develop an appropriate bladder or bowel management care plan. Your care plan may include toilet training guidance, product recommendations, recurring care services, and check-in appointments so you can continue to successfully manage your incontinence.  

 We will also compile the results of your continence assessment, the details of your care plan, and any necessary continence product price quotes into a comprehensive report. This report can help your family, support team, health professionals, and NDIS planners stay informed about the care and assistance you need. 

When developing your management care plan, we will determine whether or not you require any continence products to effectively manage your condition. Once your nurse has completed your continence assessment, NDIS funding support may be available to help you access the products you need. 

 To check whether you are eligible to receive funding from the NDIS for your incontinence products, the NDIS will consult the reports your continence nurse completed after assessing you. If your incontinence is ongoing and directly linked to your disability, NDIS funding may also be available for the continence assessment itself.   

Subsidy funding is available under the Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (MASS) to support eligible adults who require continence aids. 

The continence nurse will work with the applicant to ensure the most suitable continence aid is prescribed, and then complete and submit the Continence Aids Application Form. After the initial supply, review applications for ongoing supply must be made every three years or where there is a change to the type of continence aids. 

At Allied Therapy Network our Continence Nurse may suggest some pelvic floor therapy to improve your pelvic floor muscle strength. This may include a pelvic floor exercise program specifically tailored around your needs and ability. Strengthening your pelvic floor muscle is vital for bladder and bowel management and maintaining continence.