Urinary incontinence in the elderly

Preview

The cause of incontinence in an elderly person is often a combination of factors and can include neuromuscular dysfunction or another organic problem as well as environmental, psychiatric, and iatrogenic components. Successfully identifying the factors involved is the key to treatment. The authors divide organic incontinence into two types: failure to store urine and failure to empty the bladder. After explaining the mechanisms involved in each, the authors provide an overview of diagnostic procedures and review several nonsurgical methods of treatment.