Managing incontinence in the home: What do caregivers have to say?

Caring for a loved one with incontinence presents a myriad of challenges for the home caregiver. Unskilled, unlicensed and unpaid family members are assuming a wide range of duties that typically fall within the domain of healthcare professionals. The economic and psychosocial implications of managing incontinence of a loved one in the home can be significant. Incontinence has been cited as the number two cause of institutionalization of elders in the USA.

Who are the caregivers and what do they need? A caregiver survey was conducted by an independent market research firm to discover the concerns and challenges of home caregivers. Five hundred and fifty home caregivers responded to questions related to their age, gender, relationship to the family member, factors that contribute to their stress, what causes the greatest stress, how they acquire information, how many hours are spent caring for a loved one and what are the economic implications of caring for a loved one with incontinence. The information elicited from this caregiver survey can provide WOC nurses valuable guidance as they provide information and support to help caregivers maintain or restore skin integrity when caring for a loved one with urinary and/or fecal incontinence.