Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Incontinence and Aging

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Geropsychology

  • 42 Accesses

Synonyms

For urinary incontinence: Urine leakage; Involuntary urination; Enuresis; Bedwetting; Nocturnal enuresis; Diurnal enuresis

For fecal incontinence: Accidental bowel leakage; Encopresis; Anal incontinence; Bowel incontinence

Definition

The International Continence Society defines urinary incontinence as “the complaint of any involuntary leakage of urine” (Abrams et al. 2002). The International Consultation on Incontinence defines fecal incontinence as “the involuntary loss of liquid or solid stool that is a social or hygienic problem” (Norton et al. 2005). The term “incontinence” is used in this entry to refer to urinary incontinence (UI) and fecal incontinence (FI).

Overview

Incontinence is a prevalent and costly health condition in older adults that contributes to significant psychosocial morbidity including impaired quality of life. The annual cost of managing incontinence exceeds $16 billion, with the majority of expenditures (70%) targeting the use of incontinence pads....

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 1,699.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 1,799.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abrams, P., Cardozo, L., Fall, M., Griffiths, D., et al. (2002). The standardization of terminology of lower urinary tract function: Report from the standardization sub-committee of the International Continence Society. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 187, 116–126.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asoglu, M. R., Selcuk, S., Cam, C., Cogendex, E., & Karateke, A. (2014). Effects of urinary incontinence subtypes on women’s quality of life (including sexual life) and psychosocial state. European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, 176, 187–190.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Averbeck, M. A., Altaweel, W., Manu-Marin, A., & Madersbacher, H. (2015). Management of LUTS in patients with dementia and associated disorders. Neurourology and Urodynamics. doi:10.1002/nau.22928. Epub ahead of print.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bogner, H. R., Gallo, J. J., Swartz, K. L., & Ford, D. E. (2002). Anxiety disorders and disability secondary to urinary incontinence among adults over age 50. International Journal of Psychiatry Medicine, 32, 141–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coyne, K. S., Kvasz, M., Ireland, A. M., et al. (2012). Urinary incontinence and its relationship to mental health and health-related quality of life in men and women in Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. European Urology, 61, 88–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dugan, E., Cohen, S. J., Bland, D. R., Preisser, J. S., Davis, C. C., Suggs, P. K., & McGann, P. (2000). The association of depressive symptoms and urinary incontinence among older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 48, 413–416.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gorina, Y., Schappert, S., Bercovit, A., et al. (2014). Prevalence of incontinence among older Americans. National center for health statistics. Vital Health Statistics, 3(36), 1–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halland, M., Koloski, N. A., Jones, M., Byles, J., Chiarelli, P., Forder, P., & Talley, N. J. (2013). Prevalence correlates and impact of fecal incontinence among older women. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, 56, 1080–1086.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heinrich, S. M., & Wells, T. J. (2004). Effects of urinary incontinence. Psychological well-being and distress in older community-dwelling women. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 30(5), 47–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lobchuk, M. M., & Rosenberg, F. (2014). A qualitative analysis of individual and family caregiver responses to the impact of urinary incontinence on quality of life. Journal of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing, 41, 589–596.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luo, X., Chuang, C. C., Yang, E., Zou, K. H., Araiza, A. L., & Bhagnani, I. (2015). Prevalence, management, and outcomes of urinary incontinence in medically complex vulnerable elderly patients in United States. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 69, 1517–1524.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lussier, M., Renaud, M., Chiva-Razavi, S., Bherer, L., & Dumoulin, C. (2013). Are stress and mixed urinary incontinence associated with impaired executive control in community-dwelling older women? Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 35, 445–454.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Melville, J. L., Fan, M. Y., Rau, H., Nygaard, I. E., & Katon, W. J. (2009). Major depression and urinary incontinence in women: Temporal associations in an epidemiologic sample. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 201(5), 490.e1–490.e7. doi:10.1016/j.acog.2009.05.047. Epub 2009 Aug 29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norton, C., Whitehead, W. E., Bliss, D. Z., Metsola, P., & Tries, J. (2005). Conservative and pharmacological management of faecal incontinence in adults. In P. Abrams, L. Cardozo, S. Khoury, & A. Wein (Eds.), Proceedings of the 3rd International Consultation on Incontinence (pp. 1521–1563). Paris: Health Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nygaard, I., Turvey, C., Burns, T. L., Crischilles, E., & Wallace, R. (2003). Urinary incontinence and depression in middle-aged United States women. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 101, 149–156.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ory, M. G., Wyman, J. F., & Yu, L. (1986). Psychosocial factors in urinary incontinence. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 2, 661–671.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, S., McGrother, C. W., Turner, K., & Leichestershire MRC Incontinence Study Group. (2006). An investigation of the relationship between anxiety and depression and urge incontinence in women: Development of a psychological model. British Journal of Health Psychology, 11, 463–482.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, P. P., Kuchel, G. A., & Griffiths, D. (2015). Functional brain imaging and the neural basis for voiding dysfunction in older adults. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 31, 549–565.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tenunissen, D., Van Den Bosch, W., Van Weel, C., & Lagro-Janssen, T. (2006). “It can always happen”: The impact of urinary incontinence on elderly men and women. Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, 24, 166–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagg, A. S., Chen, L. K., Krischner-Hermannns, R., Kuchel, G. A., Johnson, T., 2nd, Ostaszkiwicz, J., Markland, A., Palmer, M. H., & Szoni, G. (2013). Incontinence in the frail elderly. In P. Abrams, L. Cardozo, S. Khoury, & A. Wein (Eds.), Incontinence. Proceedings of the 5th International Consultation on Incontinence (pp. 1001–1100). Paris: European Urology Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, L., Brown, J. S., Shin, G. P., Luc, K. O., & Subak, L. L. (2001). Annual direct cost of urinary incontinence. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 98, 398–406.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, D., & Kane, R. L. (2013). Effect of urinary incontinence on older nursing home residents’ self-reported quality of life. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 61, 1473–1481.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Jean F. Wyman & Kristine M. Talley

Authors
  1. Jean F. Wyman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kristine M. Talley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jean F. Wyman or Kristine M. Talley .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Nancy A. Pachana

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

About this entry

Cite this entry

Wyman, J.F., Talley, K.M. (2017). Incontinence and Aging. In: Pachana, N.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geropsychology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-082-7_294

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation