There are various types of urinary incontinence that people can experience at any age. The most common types are stress incontinence and urge incontinence which deals with complications surrounding the bladder and urethra. But the occurrence of functional incontinence relates to the physical barriers that can arise when the urge to urinate is experienced. 

What is Functional Incontinence?

Functional incontinence occurs when a person’s urinary system and bladder control is functioning correctly, but they are unable to access a toilet. This can be due to an intellectual or physical condition, caused by a range of reasons such as not being unable to recognise the need to go to the toilet or unable to locate or access a toilet. Functional incontinence is also known as disability associated urinary incontinence. Conditions such as dementia, cerebral palsy and arthritis can become barriers for someone to access a toilet.

The causes of functional incontinence include:

- Mobility problems where the individual cannot move fast enough when the need to go arises.

- When the individual has difficulties removing clothing.

- Poor eyesight can make it difficult for individuals to access a bathroom, especially if there are obstacles in the way.

- Medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, dementia, or Parkinson’s disease can affect a person’s ability to easily access a bathroom.

Treatments for Functional Incontinence

A way to help prevent the occurrence of functional incontinence is bladder training. This is when you schedule the amount of time between bathroom trips, helping you to decrease the amount of trips you take and also helping you to improve your bladder’s capability of holding more urine.

Pelvic muscle exercises, also commonly known as kegel exercises are used to help strengthen your pelvic muscles. These support the bladder and can help you avoid the loss of urine and prevent accidents from occurring.

Other useful tips that may help include, ensuring that you are able to access your bathroom at home and that there are no obstacles or barriers in your way. Make sure that there are no obstructions and keep the door open and lights on to allow for easy access. If you are unable to remove clothing in a timely manner, it may be best to make sure that your clothes are easy to remove. For example, instead of wearing a belt, you could wear pants that have an elastic waist. If you are out of your house, then make sure you are aware of where the closest bathrooms are. This can help prevent accidents when you have to spend too much time looking for the closest one.

If you suffer from a medical condition, then it is best to discuss your treatment options with your GP so they can provide appropriate advice depending on your individual situation.

If you are experiencing incontinence, Molicare have a vast range of products that are highly absorbent and provide a comfortable fit. With a range of different styles, sizes and absorbency levels – there’s a perfect fit for all incontinence needs. Their curly fibre technology also helps to maintain healthy pH levels and reduce the risk of skin irritation. Molicare has a vast range of incontinence products including Molicare premium, Molicare pads and Molicare mobile.

It is important to seek medical advice and talk to your doctor or a continence professional about your symptoms. Visit your local Blooms The Chemist Pharmacy team for more information and recommendations on the best incontinence products for you. Shop in-store for a vast range of incontinence products including incontinence pads and pants for men and incontinence pads for women. Click here for our range of products.

Functional Incontinence. https://www.continence.org.au/types-incontinence/urinary-incontinence/functional-incontinence