The influence of urinary incontinence on publicly financed home care services to low-income elderly people.

Urinary incontinence (UI) has been shown to be prevalent and a risk factor for permanent institutionalization; yet it is not routinely measured in research of home care utilization. A retrospective cohort design is used to directly estimate the effect of UI on the public costs of home care services to elderly individuals. Multivariate analyses controlling for other individual, household, and supply characteristics demonstrate that those with UI generate significantly greater public costs for home care services. Patterns of service use suggest palliative rather than rehabilitative service, raising questions regarding the effective use of resources.