Continence Care Training

Continence Care Training

Continence care training is training for healthcare professionals on how to assess, manage, and support people with incontinence. Incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine or stool. It can be a really tough and weakening situation, but it is often manageable with the right care. This Continence care training aims to provide an understanding of issues surrounding continence care and demonstrates best clinical practice.

Estimates suggest that around 7 million people in the UK experience some degree of urinary incontinence (5-10% of the population) according to Incontinence UK. But it could actually be more because lots of people feel shy about talking to a doctor about it. Incontinence happen more often as people get older, especially among older adults. For instance, research shows that about 15% of folks aged 85 who live at home have poo accidents, and this number goes up in places like care homes.

Continence care training is really important for healthcare workers because it helps them give the best care to people who have trouble controlling their pee. It also works to make people feel less embarrassed about it and improves their quality of life.

• Course Duration: 2- 3 hours
• Course Level: Level 2
• Certificate: 1-year certificate
• Max Delegates: 12
• Practical: Yes
• Course Mode: Face to Face/ Blended

Teaching people how to control their pee better is what continence training is all about. It helps them get stronger muscles in their pelvis and learn how to control their bladder better.

If you’re a healthcare worker and want to know more about continence care training, just fill in the form or give us a call during work hours.

In this course, you’ll learn how to manage urinary incontinence without surgery, using things like assessment, bladder training, scanning tech, and other methods.

Continence Care Course Outline

The Urinary System

Understanding how the urinary system works is crucial for properly managing incontinence. This module gives you a clear picture of the anatomy and function of the bladder, urethra, and sphincters that control urination. Knowing the process of micturition helps you identify causes and solutions.

• Anatomy and physiology of the urinary system.
• The role of the bladder, ureters, urethra, and sphincters.
• The process of micturition.

The Digestive System

Like with urination, bowel incontinence relates closely to the digestive system’s anatomy and physiology. Learning about the role of the intestines, rectum, anus, and sphincters will help you understand the mechanics behind passing stool. It also aids in pinpointing sources of incontinence.

• Anatomy and physiology of the digestive system.
• The role of the stomach, intestines, rectum, and sphincters.
• The process of digestion and elimination.

Types of Incontinence

Being able to distinguish between different forms of urinary and faecal incontinence is so important for proper diagnosis and treatment. Once you can characterise the specific type a patient is experiencing, you can zero in on tailored management approaches.

• Urinary incontinence: stress incontinence, urge incontinence, overflow incontinence, functional incontinence.
• Fecal incontinence: urge faecal incontinence, overflow faecal incontinence, mixed faecal incontinence.
• Mixed incontinence.

Common Causes of Incontinence

Many factors can contribute to incontinence, from ageing and childbirth to neurological issues and constipation. This module gives you a solid grasp of the range of potential causes to consider based on a patient’s profile and symptoms. It builds your critical thinking skills for getting to the root factors.

• Age-related changes
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Menopause
• Neurological conditions, such as stroke or multiple sclerosis
• Certain medications
• Obesity
• Chronic constipation

Red Flags

Some incontinence symptoms warrant urgent medical attention. Being able to identify high-risk red flags can help ensure serious cases don’t get overlooked. You’ll gain vigilance for alarming signs like blood in urine or stool, difficulty voiding, and sudden onset that require prompt handling.

• Blood in the urine or stool.
• Severe abdominal pain.
• Difficulty urinating or having a bowel movement.
• Sudden onset of incontinence.
• Incontinence that worsens rapidly.

 Management and Support

The good news is many incontinence cases can improve with conservative treatments like bladder training, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes. This module gives you a toolkit of first-line approaches to try before considering medications or surgery. This module covers management approaches for incontinence.

• Behavioural modifications: fluid management, bladder training, bowel training.
• Pelvic floor exercises.
• Medications.
• Medical devices, such as catheters and pessaries.
• Lifestyle changes: weight management, regular exercise, smoking cessation.
• Emotional support and counselling.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this continence care course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe what is Continence Care
2. Describe the Urinary System, Bladder, Digestive System & Bowel Functions
3. Identify types & causes of Incontinence
4. Analyse when to Seek Medical Advice
5. Explain the Management of Incontinence
6. State how to Manage Diarrhea
7. State how to Manage Constipation

Who Should Attend?

• Nurses and healthcare assistants.
• Care home staff.
• Home health aides.
• Community continence advisors.
• Anyone managing urinary incontinence.

Course Benefits

Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of incontinence, enabling them to:

• Discuss their concerns with healthcare providers more effectively.
• Make informed decisions about their treatment options.
• Manage their incontinence more effectively.
• Improve their quality of life.

A case study activity helps apply key concepts to develop a continence management plan.

This complete continence care training ensures you can support patients in controlling urinary incontinence using proven conservative techniques.

What is incontinence training for carers?

Incontinence training for carers means teaching them how to help people who have trouble controlling their pee or poo.

Here are the main things they learn:

1. Understanding Incontinence: Carers find out about the different kinds of incontinence, what causes it, and how it affects people.
2. Keeping Things Respectful and Comfy: They learn ways to help without making people feel embarrassed, focusing on how to respect their privacy and make them feel comfortable.
3. Using the Right Stuff: Carers get trained on how to use and throw away different things used for incontinence, like adult nappies, pads, tubes, and covers for beds.
4. Helping with the Toilet: They learn how to safely and correctly help people use the toilet, including moving them around, helping them get in the right position, and cleaning up afterwards.
5. Keeping Skin Healthy: Carers learn about keeping skin clean and healthy to prevent sores or infections caused by incontinence.
6. Being Kind and Understanding: They learn how to talk nicely about incontinence and support people who might feel embarrassed or upset.
7. Documentation and reporting: Carers find out how to write down when accidents happen, what they use to help, and if anything changes or worries them.

This training usually involves learning in a classroom, watching demonstrations, and practising with equipment and pretend situations. It’s important for carers to keep learning about incontinence regularly to make sure they know the latest ways to help.

Effective incontinence training helps carers treat people with dignity, keep them comfy, and make sure they stay healthy and safe.

Continence Care FAQs

Q: What is continence care?

A: Continence care involves assisting individuals in managing their bladder and bowel functions to stay dry and comfortable.

It entails maintaining control over when and where one goes to the toilet.

Q: What is the meaning of continence training?

A: Continence training teaches individuals techniques to control their bladder and bowel movements.

It includes strategies to improve timing, habits, and muscle control for better management.

Q: What can a continence nurse do?

A: A continence nurse assists individuals with bladder and bowel issues. They provide education, support, and guidance on managing continence problems.

This may involve recommending exercises, lifestyle changes, or medical interventions.

Q: What is the difference between continence and incontinence?

A: Continence means having control over bladder and bowel functions, being able to decide when and where to go to the toilet.

Incontinence, on the other hand, refers to the inability to control these functions, leading to unexpected leaks.

Q: Who can perform a continence assessment?

A: A healthcare professional, such as a doctor, nurse, or physiotherapist, can perform a continence assessment.

They will evaluate an individual’s bladder and bowel habits, medical history, and conduct physical examinations to understand and address any issues.

Q: How do you monitor continence?

A: Monitoring continence involves keeping track of bathroom habits and any issues with leakage.

Individuals can use a bladder diary to record when they go to the toilet, how much they drink, and any instances of incontinence.

This information helps healthcare professionals assess and plan appropriate care.

Q: What is continence management?

A: Continence management involves strategies and practices to help individuals maintain control over their bladder and bowel functions. It encompasses various approaches to prevent or address issues related to incontinence.

Q: What is a continence management plan?

A: A continence management plan is a personalised strategy designed by healthcare professionals to address an individual’s specific bladder and bowel needs. It outlines steps, exercises, and interventions to manage and improve continence.

Q: What is the role of professionals in the management of continence?

A: Professionals play a crucial role in continence management. They assess, diagnose, and create personalised plans for individuals with bladder and bowel issues. This may involve nurses, physiotherapists, or doctors who provide guidance, support, and necessary interventions.

Q: What should you do to maintain continence?

A: To maintain continence, individuals should adopt healthy habits, such as staying hydrated, maintaining a balanced diet, and practicing pelvic floor exercises. Timely visits to the bathroom and avoiding irritants can also contribute to continence.

Q: Who can do a continence assessment?

A: A continence assessment can be conducted by healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, or physiotherapists. They evaluate an individual’s bladder and bowel habits, medical history, and conduct examinations to identify and address continence issues.

Q: What is the meaning of continence training?

A: Continence training involves teaching individuals techniques to enhance control over bladder and bowel movements. It includes educating on proper habits, exercises, and strategies to improve timing and muscle control for effective continence management.

Q: What is the meaning of continence training?

A: Continence training means teaching healthcare workers, caregivers, or individuals how to help with peeing and pooing issues.

The main aims of this training are:

1. 1. Helping people stay in control: Caregivers learn ways to assist people in keeping their bladder and bowel movements regular, like setting regular bathroom times, doing exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor, and making lifestyle changes.
   2. Handling accidents: If accidents happen, the training teaches the right way to use products like adult diapers or pads, setting up regular bathroom times, and keeping the skin healthy and clean.
   3. Respecting dignity and happiness: Continence training stresses treating each person as an individual, respecting their privacy, and lessening the impact of peeing or pooing problems on their life

Continence training is really important for healthcare workers and caregivers in places like hospitals, nursing homes, at-home care, and rehab centres. This training helps make sure that people who struggle with peeing or pooing get the right care that’s respectful, dignified, and top-notch.

Q: What are incontinence training pants?

Incontinence training pants, also called pull-up pants or disposable underwear, are absorbent garments that help manage pee or poo accidents. They’re designed to be used during toilet training or retraining for people with pee or poo problems.

These pants are usually made of special absorbent materials, like fluff pulp and super-absorbent stuff, similar to adult diapers. But they look more like regular undies, with stretchy waistbands and leg holes, so they can be pulled up and down like normal pants.

Here’s why people use incontinence training pants:

1. 1. Toilet training: They’re handy for kids or adults with developmental issues, letting them feel when they’re wet, which helps them learn when to use the loo.
   2. Continence retraining: For folks working on getting better control over their bladder or bowels after surgery or other health issues, these pants keep leaks in check while still letting them use the loo.
   3. Independence: They look more like regular undies, which helps people keep their dignity and do things on their own, even if they need a bit of extra help with incontinence.
   4. Skin protection: Like other incontinence gear, these pants help keep skin dry and comfy, protecting against rashes or irritation.

You can find incontinence training pants in different sizes, absorbencies, and types – from throwaway ones to washable ones. They’re used in hospitals, nursing homes, and at home, especially during training or retraining programs.

Remember, though, that these pants aren’t a replacement for good continence care. It’s important to follow the advice of healthcare pros, including setting up regular toilet times, doing exercises to strengthen muscles, and using other strategies to promote continence.

As I have told others... It is the best, most informative training I have ever attended