Interdisciplinary approaches to the treatment of urinary incontinence in older adults

The complex nature of urinary incontinence in older adults demands an interdisciplinary approach to treatment. Social and psychological consequences to incontinent behavior and its treatment require the knowledge and specialized skills of several disciplines to achieve maximal patient outcomes. Urinary incontinence in the longterm care setting is a particularly stubborn problem; however, interdisciplinary teams working together using a continence philosophy can help change professional norms and institutional cultures to those of continence promotion. This article addresses several principles in the interdisciplinary treatment of urinary incontinence in older adults and offers an updated continence promotion model.