The evaluation and treatment of urinary incontinence in the elderly

In essence, incontinence in the elderly should be managed by careful elucidation of the underlying causes and specific treatment aimed at those problems that are remediable. When specific treatment fails, external collecting devices may be helpful. Indwelling catheters should be either temporary, intermittently used, or a last resort. Finally, elderly patients with incontinence should not be treated as pariahs; they require an empathetic and investigative approach to their problem. Continence in the elderly is a goal to be achieved rather than a disease to be treated.