NHS Waste Half a BILLION Pounds a Year Due to Substandard Incontinence Care

The NHS is ‘leaking’ more than half a BILLION pounds a year – through substandard incontinence care, according to a report. There are currently 164,833 people in residential care and nursing homes who experience difficulty with bladder or bowel control. But an eight-week value-based procurement pilot carried out at two care homes in Lincolnshire has exposed both the cost, and indignity, of cheap, ill-fitting pads and protection. The study, carried out by hygiene and health company Essity in partnership with the NHS, investigated the impact of providing more clinically appropriate products in lieu of those chosen on unit cost alone. Read more.

Source: Yahoo! News UK, October 11, 2023

Incontinence Management: A Crisis In Plain Sight

I find often when trying to help providers improve their quality and operational performance metrics, most of the time they are overlooking or ignoring a major foundational concept. Two-thirds of the clinical pathways or critical elements that CMS has sent forth often involve the incontinence ecosystem (See Figure 1). Incontinence, as stated in some of my previous articles, needs to be taken seriously when trying to improve overall quality. Read more.

Source: McKnight’s Long Term Care News, August 9, 2023

NorthShore Care Supply Begins Clinical Trial to Re-Evaluate Protocols with Senior Care Facilities & Residents Managing Heavy Incontinence

NorthShore Care Supply’s first clinical trial begins in senior care facilities. The trial will test a new approach to incontinence care for residents. Since 2002, NorthShore has served over 2.5 million families in the United States. Several thousand 5-star customer reviews state that NorthShore products give adults more confidence and better sleep. Family caregivers also notice more sleep and fewer nighttime changes. Maintaining healthy skin is a top concern for individuals who wear adult diapers, and NorthShore delivers. Read more.

Source: Globe Newswire, August 6, 2022

Urinary Incontinence Poses Burden to Long-Term Care

The impact and management of urinary incontinence (UI) related to overactive bladder is a substantial burden to long-term care (LTC) residents and staff, according to a study published online July 1 in the Journal of Gerontological Nursing. Richard G. Stefanacci, D.O., from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, and colleagues assessed the impact of UI on residents, staff, care processes, and quality measures in LTC settings. The analysis included responses from directors of nursing who had worked for at least one year in a ≥100-bed facility. Read more.

Source: Health Day News, July 25, 2022

Tailoring Continence Management to Individual Needs in Residential Care

This observational study investigated the benefits of adopting a person-centred approach to the management of urinary incontinence and associated hygiene care. A trial was carried out in 12 residential care homes in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. Toileting, containment product selection, frequency and timing of changes, and personal hygiene routines were tailored to the needs of individual residents. Skin redness improved, there was less leakage and residents’ wellbeing improved. Containment product changes were easier to carry out, fewer containment products were used, and product costs were reduced. The adoption of person-centred care initiatives was seen to benefit all stakeholders – namely, residents, caregivers and the administration of the residential care facility. Read more.

Source: Nursing Times, March 7, 2022

Common Problems Still Challenge Caregivers When It Comes to Incontinence Treatment

Skilled nursing educators worth their mettle today will strongly warn bedside caregivers to throw out any preconceived notions they may have about incontinence. A big one is the widely disproved notion that incontinence is an “old person’s disease.” Another one is that “incontinence cannot be cured.” In a recent study, in fact, significant numbers of professional nurses and a vast majority of nurse assistants told Indiana University researchers they believed bladder disorders are a normal part of aging. Time and again, researchers have refuted incontinence mythology. Along the way, their efforts all too often show how frail elderly individuals can quickly tumble down a path of declining health, endless indignities and painful bed sores. That is, if open minds and a thorough assessment had not prevailed before a resident’s head hit the pillow for the first time. Read more.

Source: McKnight’s Long-term Care News, March 7, 2019