Home » Module 7

Module 7: Continence: A Matter of Dignity - Causes, Signs and Prevention Instructions

Module 7 addresses:

1) The common causes and potentially serious effects of urinary incontinence (UI);
2) Effective ways to prevent or reduce episodes of UI;
3) Warning signs of UTI.

Continence - A Matter of Dignity: Causes, Signs and Prevention

Written by:

Marie Mangino, MSN, CRNP, BC
President, Vincent Healthcare, Inc.
Consultant, Penn Nursing Consultation Service

Reviewed and updated in 2012 by:

Marie Mangino, MSN, CRNP, BC
President, Vincent Healthcare, Inc.
Consultant, Penn Nursing Consultation Service

Wendy W. Fox, MOT, OTR/L
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

Jennifer A. Reinhold, BA, PharmD, BCPS
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

Every day urinary incontinence (UI) affects the jobs of direct care staff and the lives of those in their care. Urinary incontinence, when untreated can lead to many serious problems so it is important for direct care staff to learn how to reduce or prevent UI. This module identifies the four major types of urinary incontinence and reviews other causes for UI, including abnormal changes and functional limitations. It also lists the warning signs of a urinary tract infection. The module helps direct care staff gain an understanding of things they can do for older adults with UI such as prompting (suggest, encourage and remind) to toilet or scheduling. The overall goal is to help direct care staff learn effective ways to prevent or reduce episodes of UI in elderly persons and enhance the dignity of those in their care.

The teaching materials for this module include a PowerPoint presentation with speaker's notes. These notes provide additional information so that the speaker can ellaborate on each concept presented within the PowerPoint.

Three videos are also included with the teaching materials. Please make sure to download the videos as the PowerPoint presentation contains cues for when to play each video.

If you are using Firefox on a PC, right click on the video link and select, "Save link as...." If you are using Internet Explorer you will select, "Save Target As...."

If you are using a Mac, press the Control key and click on the video link and then select "Save link as...".

If you would like to create handouts from the PowerPoint file for your attendees and do not know how, please visit the following link:

How to Create Handouts for Attendees from PowerPoint

If you would like to create a printout of the slides that also contains the notes for the instructor, please visit the following link:

How to Create Notes Pages for Presenters in PowerPoint

Please note that there is a Disqus commenting field at the bottom of this page. The Geriatric Education Center of Greater Philadelphia would greatly appreciate any feedback.