Managing continence problems

With one in four Australians experiencing bladder and/or bowel control problems, incontinence is nothing to be ashamed of.

Common problems include leakage from the bladder and/or bowel, urgency, waking frequently at night to pass urine, and constipation. There are a lot of products available these days that can help with managing your incontinence, no matter the severity. These products include disposable or reusable pads and pants, mattress and chair protectors, catheters, and more. Most of these incontinence aids can be found in supermarkets and pharmacies for purchase.

If you need extra assistance, you can engage the help of a continence nurse advisor, who can discuss your needs and help you find products that will best manage your incontinence.

If you receive support through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), you can access continence advisory services, or if you have a Home Care Package (HCP), you may be able to receive funding from the Government for incontinence aids.

Additionally, the Government’s Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) is available to people with permanent or severe incontinence. You cannot access CAPS if you receive a Home Care Package. Visit the Department of Health website at health.gov.au for more information.

The importance of nutrition

Good nutrition is important at any age but it becomes even more important as you get older.

Food is such an important part of the human experience, but it can be harder to continue enjoying food when your body doesn’t process what you enjoy the same way it did when you were younger.

Maintaining a healthy body is all about making good choices such as being active and eating healthy, which also assists with living independently for longer.

Making the right food choices doesn’t mean you can’t still indulge and enjoy your favourite treats. It’s all about balance.

Good nutrients can reduce the risk of developing a lot of diseases and illnesses, like weakening muscles and bones, or chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or osteoporosis.

Poor nutrition can result in weight loss or weight gain, and impact the security of your immune system making the likelihood of catching illnesses, like the flu, more common.

Since your immune system already weakens as you age, it’s important to put as many preventative measures in place as possible.

Food and your body

Food is a huge source of fuel for the body to keep it moving and energised, it’s important to “fill the tank” with what your body needs.

As you age, your calorie intake will decrease but you still need to maintain the same amount of nutrients, if not increase them. So it is important to make sure you eat more of the good stuff, even if you have smaller meals more often during the day.

Taste and smell can also decrease as you age, so to counterbalance that you need more flavourful food or pleasant smelling food to increase your appetite.

Changes in your diet for optimum nutrients

If you aren’t getting enough vitamins from your food, it may be worth talking to your doctor about adding specific supplements into your diet to help you get to the levels you need.

However, never substitute supplements for food, they should only be used to assist.

Eating nutrient-rich foods could include vegetables and fruits, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds, low-fat dairy, and lean meat. These types of foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates and fats that are vital to an ageing body.

Fibre is another essential for older people in maintaining a healthy digestive system, which is also beneficial to good cholesterol levels.

Minimising salt intake and reducing processed food is also important. Junk food generally has a lot of calories but no nutritional value. Keeping hydrated is also very important and vital to a healthy body.