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Continent or incontinent? That is the question.
Roma Lee Taunton1, Daniel L Swagerty, Joyce A Lasseter
1School of Nursing, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66160-7503, USA.
Journal of Gerontological Nursing
|September 30, 2005
Summary
Nursing home staff focus on keeping residents clean and dry due to incontinence, but formal continence programs are lacking. Care expectations, like regular toileting, are often unmet, impacting resident well-being.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nursing Care
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- Urinary incontinence is a prevalent issue in nursing home residents.
- Effective management strategies are crucial for resident quality of life and facility resources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the care provided to nursing home residents experiencing urinary incontinence.
- To identify challenges and facilitators in continence care within Midwestern nursing facilities.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative, emergent case study design.
- Data collection through observation, resident record audits, and semi-structured interviews.
- Inclusion of residents, family members, and facility staff.
Main Results:
- Varied definitions of incontinence among staff.
- Failure to meet the expected 2-hour toileting schedule.
- Primary motivation for care was maintaining skin integrity, not continence promotion.
- Medical directors perceived incontinence as a nursing-specific issue.
- Limited evidence of formal continence management programs despite some resident improvements.
Conclusions:
- Current incontinence care in nursing facilities prioritizes hygiene over active continence management.
- A gap exists between care expectations and delivery, particularly regarding toileting schedules.
- Formalized programs are needed to improve continence care and resident outcomes.