ASSESSMENT··or PREVALENCE, STRESS AND CARE OF URINARY . INCONTINENCE IN ELDERS AHENDING GERIATRICS CLINIC

Abstract

Urinary incontinence is a common, distressing and often disabling condition in the elderly. It may be defined as an involuntary loss of urine that is objectively demonstrable and leads to social or hygienic problem. Its prevalence among elderly persons residing in the community is between 10-20% (Fantl eta!., 1991).

Urinary incontinence is one of the most devastating problems that occurs in older adult lives. Urinary incontinence frequently precipitates admission of frail elders to a nursing home and also lengthenes stay in both hospitals and nursing homes. It is such a prevalence and a costly clinical problem that the agency for health care policy and research chose urinary incontinence as one of the first clinical topic for developing clinical practice and guide lines (Cattanclt and Kraemer, 1991).

In Egypt, although there is a consensus among gerontologists that abnormal urological symptoms are common among the elderly, the extent to which these problems affect the elderly living in a community has not been yet established.

According to Scltnelle, (1991) unnary incontinence is often viewed by the elderly patients, their families and health professionals as an inevitable consequence of old age. As a result, it is frequently left unevaluated and improperly managed and in the most difficult condition, it may be a pivotal factor in the decision to institionalize an elderly person.