Urinary Incontinence in Older Adults

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nursing Education
• Public Health

Background:

• Family caregivers frequently encounter challenges due to insufficient information for managing complex patient care regimens.
• A collaborative series with the AARP Public Policy Institute aims to bridge this knowledge gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To equip nurses with practical tools and information to better support family caregivers.
• To provide an updated overview of urinary incontinence and its management in older adults for family caregivers.

Main Methods:

• Focus groups were conducted as part of the AARP Public Policy Institute's 'No Longer Home Alone' video project.
• A series of articles and accompanying videos are being developed to deliver accessible caregiving information.

Main Results:

• Evidence suggests a significant need for improved information dissemination to family caregivers.
• The series provides simple, actionable instructions for nurses to reinforce with caregivers.

Conclusions:

• Nurses play a crucial role in empowering family caregivers with necessary knowledge and skills.
• This article, the first of two, addresses urinary incontinence, with a subsequent installment offering a caregiver tear sheet and video links.