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Continence management for people at home

One in five Australians experience difficulty with bladder or bowel control, but many neglect the problem. It’s important that if you feel you need help, you start by making an appointment with your doctor, and ask for a long consultation to give you both time to explore the problem without feeling rushed. As well as medical treatment, there are a range of other services that can help.

National Continence Helpline

This free telephone service provides information from trained continence nurses who can refer you to local sources of help, as well as offering personal advice and counselling. Contact the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66.

Continence nurse advisers

Continence nurse advisers specialise in the treatment of incontinence and provide professional assessments and advise. These nurses may be found in urology departments of public outpatient clinics and hospitals, in community nursing services, community therapy clinics or in private nursing services. Contact the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66.

Doctors

Doctors provide medical assessment and treatment options, review and prescribe medications, order clinical tests, and may refer you to a medical specialist, a continence nurse adviser or a continence physiotherapist.

Continence physiotherapists

Continence physiotherapists specialise in the treatment of incontinence and they’re generally found in public outpatient clinics for women, public hospitals or in private physiotherapy practices. A doctor’s referral is not required to see a continence physiotherapist. Contact the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66.

Pharmacists

Pharmacists advise on medications and sell continence products. They may also keep information leaflets on incontinence or local clinics. They can also advise you if the medication you are taking can make your incontinence worse.

Medical specialists

Medical specialists are doctors who specialise in urology, gynaecology or the treatment of bowel conditions. Urologists and bowel specialists treat both men and women, while gynaecologists treat women. You must be referred to a medical specialist by a doctor.

Continence Foundation of Australia Resource Centres

The Continence Foundation of Australia has a branch in each state/territory and a resource centre with a continence advisory service in some states. Continence health professionals at the resource centres are trained to provide advice and information. Contact the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66.

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Community therapy clinics

Community therapy clinics are often associated with aged care facilities and offer professional health care services for people over 65 years of age. These may also have a continence clinic.

Public hospitals and outpatients clinics

Hospitals may have specialist continence clinics as part of the urology department or women’s health service.

Medical wholesalers

Medical wholesalers generally sell continence products to hospitals and nursing homes. Some will also sell directly to the public, if requested.

Continence product companies

Continence product companies manufacture and import continence products. They usually supply to medical wholesale companies, hospitals, nursing homes, chemists and supermarkets. Some even supply free samples to the public.

Independent Living Centres

Independent Living Centres provide information and advisory services and have a display of continence products and other aids that assist with day-to-day living.

Community and health nursing services

Community and health nursing services may provide assessment, advice and treatment in your home from qualified registered nurses and continence nurse advisers. Contact your local council or the National Continence Helpline on 1800 330 066, or look in the Community care service finder.
Next step: Community Care Service Finder

Continence support

The Continence Aids Assistance Scheme (CAAS) is an Australian Government program that assists eligible people who have permanent and severe incontinence to meet the cost of continence products. CAAS is administered on behalf of the Australian Government by Intouch, the commercial arm of the Spinal Injuries Association Incorporated. CAAS clients receive a subsidy of up to $470 per year on continence products ordered through Intouch.

Currently, applicants for CAAS must be between 16 and 64 years of age, with a neurological cause for their incontinence. From 1 July 2007, eligibility will be expanded to include people aged five to 15 years and 65 and over. In addition, people who hold a Pensioner Concession Card and who have a non-neurological cause for their incontinence, such as autism, cancer, prostate disease or dementia will also be able to access CAAS from 1 July 2007.

Read more: About managing continence

Short-term care

Commonwealth Carer Respite Centres can organise either short-term or emergency respite services so that your carer can take a break. This can take place in your home or at another location. Contact the Carer Respite Centre on 1800 059 059.

Read more: About short-term care

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Carers Australia

Carers Australia represents carers of people with a disability, mental illness, chronic condition or those who are frail or aged. It also provides information, support, education, training and counselling.

Information for carers

There are Carers Associations in each state and territory that can provide carers with advice and counselling, which can assist the carer in their role. Contact the Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre on 1800 242 636.

Carer support groups

Carer support groups provide emotional support to carers, and are sometimes organised around specific conditions. The Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre can provide information about these groups in your area and refer you to other organisations like the Alzheimer’s Association or Multiple Sclerosis Society, which also offer support.

Contact the Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre on 1800 242 636.

Getting financial help

Many people with incontinence have other health problems and are often pensioners or have limited incomes.

To find out if you’re eligible for financial assistance, contact:

Subsidy schemes

Different schemes are available in each state and territory to help you buy continence aids and appliances. Each scheme has its own rules for eligibility and a financial limit on the amount of supplies provided. When you contact the National Continence Helpline on 1800 330 066, you can ask about:

There is no GST on most incontinence products, but there is GST on the delivery fee. Medical suppliers will deliver for a fee.

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National Continence Helpline
1800 330 066
Aged Care Information Line
1800 500 853
Continence Aids Assistance Scheme information (Intouch)
1300 366 455
Continence Aids Assistance Scheme
1800 807 487

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This page was last updated on: 16 May 2007