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Your NDIS Planning for Continence Management

You do not require a Continence Assessment if you are happy with your current products and management. If your goals have changed to your continence management this should be included in your plan and is best done in consultation with a Continence Specialist.

You need to specifically mention continence in your planning meeting or it will not be included.

Ask your NDIS planner or Local Area Co-ordinator to allow for a continence assessment and/or follow up review (approximately 4 hours therapy per annum) to be approved for you in your NDIS plan under the category Individual Assessment Therapy and /or Training (includes assistive technology)15_048_0128_1_3.

Continence aids and products you require will need to be included in your NDIS plan under Core Support: Consumables. The NDIS principles of ‘Reasonable and Necessary’ applies when it comes to a delegate approving prescription items.

Your NDIS plan is focused around you achieving your goals. You will need to express how your incontinence affects your goals as this is what the funding is related to. For example; if your goal is to return to employment, what continence requirements do you require to meet this goal?

A Continence Related Assistive Technology Assessment will document requirements in line with achieving your goals when conducted by an experienced Continence Specialist.

Finally, talk about incontinence at your planning meeting, if it is not part of your NDIS plan goal, it is not part of your plan.

By Sheehan Health 0 Comments Sheehan Health Blog

What is a bladder diary, and should I keep one?

Everyone who experiences incontinence should try keeping a bladder or bowel diary for at least a couple of days. What you see may surprise you, or, at the very least, provide a roadmap of your concerns that you can share with your health practitioner.
A bladder diary is a great tool for those looking to treat their incontinence, and should be used as the first step in understanding your specific condition. A bladder diary will track the number of times you have gone to the toilet in a day, if you’ve had any leakage (and the amount), and also tracks your food and drink consumption. By recording all of this over a series of days (at least 2-3 but up to a week or two can be really helpful), you may be able to see trends over time. For instance, perhaps you always experience leakage at a certain time of day, or after you’ve had a certain food or drink. This tracking can help you adjust your routine (or your diet) to avoid leaking. This tool can be extremely helpful to your clinician, as it gives him/her a better picture of your situation and may help advise better treatment options that will work for you.

By Sheehan Health 0 Comments Sheehan Health Blog

Healthy Habits for your Bladder and Bowel

Good healthy bladder & bowel habits can have a significant impact on our lives, & small changes in our daily habits can help prevent, or at least improve, urinary incontinence & faecal incontinence. By taking just a few of the following healthy steps in the right direction, you can make a positive impact on your bladder & bowel health.

1. Drink well
While our tendency when dealing with bladder & bowel problems might be to restrict our liquid intake, this is actually the opposite of what we should do.
• Aim to drink an adequate amount of fluid a day, unless otherwise advised by your doctor
• Drink more fluids (preferably water) if the weather is hot, or if you are exercising; &
• Cut down on alcohol, fizzy drinks & drinks with caffeine in them, as they irritate the bladder.

2. Eat a healthy diet
Eating well can make a world of difference to how we feel & how our bodies operate.
• Eat plenty of fibre, this improves bowel function by absorbing water & adding bulk to your bowel motions. Bulky stools keep things moving through your bowel to avoid constipation. Fibre is found in many foods including multigrain or whole grain breads, cereals & cereal products, fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts & seeds
• Eat 2 servings of fruit, 5 servings of vegetables & 5 servings of cereals/(wholemeal) breads each day.

3. Lead a positive lifestyle
• Maintain an ideal body weight, excess body fat strains the pelvic floor and can lead to bladder & bowel control problems.
• Stop smoking. Chronic (long-term) coughing associated with smoking can weaken the muscles of your pelvic floor & lead to bladder & bowel control problems.

4. Get active
Making a move in the right direction, not matter how small, can make a big difference.
• Aim to exercise for 30 minutes most days. Exercise stimulates movement of the bowel, & even gentle exercise, like walking helps
• Do your pelvic floor muscle exercises regularly. Obesity, pregnancy, childbirth, regular heavy lifting & a chronic cough can all weaken the pelvic floor, but you can strengthen these muscles with specific exercises.

5. Practice good toilet habits
• Go to the toilet when you get the urge to open your bowels, as this is the most effective time to completely empty them. Most people get the urge first thing in the morning or following a meal when eating has stimulated the bowel.
• Adopt the best posture for sitting on the toilet. When you sit on the toilet, place your elbows on your knees, lean forward & support your feet with a footstool. This helps to fully relax your pelvic floor and sphincter muscles.
• Avoid constipation, as this affects both bladder & bowel function. If you often strain to move your bowels, the pelvic floor stretches & weakens over time, impacting bladder control.