The effects of severe incontinence
Severe incontinence affects more than 315,000 people in Australia, resulting in substantial associated care and costs, according to an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report released last week.
Severe incontinence affects more than 315,000 people in Australia, resulting in substantial associated care and costs, according to an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report released last week.
‘Severe incontinence’ may result in needing constant help with managing bladder or bowel control, and/or using continence aids.
The report, Incontinence in Australia: prevalence, experience and cost, showed two thirds of people experiencing incontinence were female (66%).
A smaller, but still substantial, number of about 144,000 people reportedly always needed help or supervision with their bladder or bowel control.
“Incontinence affects people’s ability to take part in education, employment and social situations,” AIHW spokesperson, Brent Diverty, said.
In 2009, only one in five people aged 15 to 64 years, who always or sometimes needed assistance with bladder or bowel control, were working or looking for work.
“This was substantially lower than for those who had difficulty with bladder or bowel control but needed no assistance (42%) and those who had no difficulty at all (57%),” Dr Diverty added.
In 2009, there were 72,900 primary carers who helped with another person’s incontinence, along with other needs for support and assistance.
Three quarters of these carers (73%) spent 40 or more hours a week actively caring or supervising, and the toll on their wellbeing was more than for carers whose support and assistance did not include help with incontinence.
For example, 50% of primary carers helping with managing bladder or bowel control said they had a change in their physical or emotional wellbeing. About 45% reported weariness and lacking energy, and 40% reported worry or depression.
“This compares with less than a third for each of these factors, for carers whose support and assistance did not include help with managing incontinence,” Mr Diverty said.
“The higher needs of people with incontinence and the greater impact on primary carers may be directly due to incontinence, or the different types and severity of disability of people who have incontinence, or both,” he added.
In 2008-09, health care spending for incontinence was about $202 million (not including residential aged care costs).
The largest share of this spending ($146 million or 72%) in 2008-09 was for admitted patient hospital services.
The Continence Aids Assistant Scheme and out-of-hospital medical services cost $32 million and $18 million respectively.
A detailed report on incontinence will be released next year.
