A home health perspective on the management of urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is now recognized as a major health care problem. Approximately 10 to 12 million persons are affected by urinary incontinence. The prevalence of urinary incontinence of noninstitutionalized (community-dwelling) persons older than 60 years ranges from 15% to 30%. Urinary incontinence is twice as common in women as in men. Two landmarks have promoted a greater awareness of urinary incontinence in our society: the National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference on Adult Urinary Incontinence, held in 1988, and the development of the Guideline for Adult Urinary Incontinence by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, in 1992. Urinary incontinence is no longer viewed as an impossible health care problem to manage, with many therapies available. Health care professionals in all arenas, including home health care, are interested in the causes and treatment of urinary incontinence.