Continence Assessment for Aged Care Homes

A continence assessment is a comprehensive evaluation conducted by our specialist continence nurse to understand your residents' specific bladder and bowel problems and develop an effective management plan.

During the assessment, our continence nurse will:

• Review your medical history - We discuss your overall health, medications, previous surgeries, and any existing medical conditions that may impact continence.
• Discuss your symptoms - You'll have the opportunity to describe your continence concerns, including when they occur, how often, and any triggers you've noticed.
• Assess your lifestyle and daily activities - We consider your mobility, physical activity levels, fluid intake, dietary habits, and how continence issues affect your daily life.
• Conduct a physical assessment - This may include examining relevant areas and assessing muscle function, depending on your specific situation and comfort level.
• Evaluate current management strategies - We review any continence products you're currently using and discuss what's working well and what isn't.
• Identify your goals - We talk about what you hope to achieve through continence management, whether that's improved comfort, greater independence, or better quality of life.

Following the assessment, our continence nurse will develop a personalised care plan that may include treatment recommendations, lifestyle modifications, pelvic floor exercises, continence product prescriptions, or referrals to a doctor or other healthcare professionals if needed.

The entire process is conducted with respect for your dignity and privacy, and you can ask questions at any point during the assessment.

Residential aged care homes are responsible for supplying continence products to their residents as part of their standard care provision. However, specialist continence assessment and nursing services, like those provided by Flame Lily, can be funded through several pathways:

• Facility operational budgets - Many facilities engage external continence specialists as part of their clinical care services
• Home Care Package funding - For residents with Home Care Packages, continence assessments can be included in their individualised care plan
• Private payment - Facilities or individual residents may choose to pay privately for specialist continence services
• Department of Veterans' Affairs - Eligible veterans may access support through DVA programmes

Our team can work with your facility to determine the most appropriate funding pathway for accessing our specialist continence nursing services.

Yes, many continence services can be incorporated into residential aged care operational costs or claimed through relevant aged care funding streams. We provide detailed invoicing and clinical documentation to support your facility's funding claims.

Our assessments cover comprehensive resident evaluations, identification of continence issues (including reversible causes), development of individualised care strategies, and recommendations for effective management approaches and interventions. We use validated assessment tools and take a multidisciplinary approach to collaboration with your existing care team.

Yes, we offer training as part of our continence services. These sessions can be arranged separately or integrated into your ongoing service agreement with Flame Lily. Training covers person-centred continence care, proper documentation practices, use of assessment tools like bladder/bowel charts, and ensuring consistent implementation of individualised care plans across all staff members.

Assessment frequency varies based on each resident's individual requirements and clinical presentation. Regular reviews can be scheduled to monitor changing needs and adjust care approaches accordingly. We typically recommend reassessment when there are significant changes in a resident's condition or if symptoms become worse, as early intervention can prevent poorer outcomes for older people who experience incontinence.

Our service encompasses initial assessments, follow-up reviews, clinical consultations, provision of continence product recommendations, staff training programmes, and ongoing clinical support for managing continence challenges. We provide comprehensive documentation of the type, frequency, and severity of incontinence, which is essential for developing a consistent care plan across staff and shifts.

Yes, our continence nurse specialists can prescribe and recommend specialised continence products and aids appropriate for each resident's needs. We work with your facility's existing supply arrangements. Our accurate assessment and data collection ensures residents receive the correct absorbency and size of continence products, optimising resource use for your facility.

Absolutely. Aged care facilities can engage Flame Lily's continence nurse specialists, who bring extensive experience and registration, delivering professional, high-quality care designed to meet your facility's specific requirements.

Contact us to discuss your facility's needs. We'll arrange an initial consultation to understand your resident population, current continence management practices, and develop a service model that suits your aged care home's operations.

We offer both on-site consultations and TeleHealth appointments. With offices in Wollongong and Western Sydney, our face-to-face services cover the Wollongong region, coastal areas to Nowra, Sutherland, and all of Western Sydney. Our TeleHealth platform extends our reach Australia-wide, bringing specialist continence care to aged care facilities in metropolitan, regional, and remote locations.

The Continence Foundation of Australia reports that incontinence affects over 5 million Australians across all age groups, with significantly higher prevalence in aged care populations. Older Australians who experience incontinence, including faecal incontinence, or bowel problems such as constipation are at risk of poorer outcomes than those who do not. At Flame Lily, our continence nurse specialists provide expert care and support to help facilities manage each person's incontinence effectively, improve quality of life, and reduce the risk of adverse health outcomes such as hospital admissions. We provide advice on best-practice continence management and work collaboratively with your care team.

For additional support and resources, facilities and families can also contact the National Continence Helpline, a service supported by the Department of Health.

A continence nurse provides evidence-based, compassionate care that improves resident outcomes. Our specialists combine clinical expertise with strong communication skills to deliver patient-centred care aligned with each facility's approach and compliant with Aged Care Quality Standards. Through thorough assessments using validated tools and proven treatment protocols, our continence nurses support accurate diagnosis and effective management, improving resident wellbeing whilst potentially reducing long-term healthcare costs for your facility. By identifying reversible causes and implementing personalised care plans, we help improve residents' quality of life and overall health outcomes.

Our continence nurse takes a comprehensive approach to facility partnerships. We review resident medical histories, discuss symptoms and concerns with care staff, and conduct individualised assessments. We then collaborate with your team to create practical care plans, which may include treatment recommendations, product selection, and staff education on effective continence management. All documentation is thorough and supports communication across your entire healthcare team for consistent, person-centred care delivery.

Our continence nurse specialists assess each resident's individual needs, considering factors such as mobility levels, cognitive function, skin integrity, and the type of incontinence present. We use accurate data collection methods, including bladder/bowel charts and clinical assessments, to determine the correct absorbency and size of continence products needed. Whether recommending pads, catheters, or other aids such as products with velcro fasteners for ease of use, our nurses provide expert guidance to support resident comfort, dignity, and effective continence management within your care routines, whilst optimising your facility's resource use.

While most aged care residents access services through My Aged Care funding, some residents may have entered the NDIS before turning 65 and continue as NDIS participants. For these residents, continence services can be funded through their NDIS plan under the Capacity Building (Improved Daily Living) support category. We can accommodate mixed funding arrangements within your facility.

Our continence assessments take a comprehensive approach to both bladder and bowel problems. We evaluate the type and severity of incontinence, identify any reversible causes, and assess how these issues impact daily life. Using validated assessment tools such as bladder/bowel charts and clinical examinations, our nurses gather accurate data to understand each resident's specific needs, including patterns of urine and faeces output, and develop targeted interventions for both urinary and faecal incontinence.

Faecal incontinence significantly impacts residents' dignity, quality of life, and physical health. Without proper management and prevention strategies, it can lead to skin breakdown, urinary tract infections, social isolation, and increased risk of falls. Our specialist continence nurses help facilities implement evidence-based strategies to manage faecal incontinence effectively, reducing these risks whilst maintaining resident comfort and dignity.

A continence management plan is an individualised document developed in collaboration with residents and care staff. It includes assessment findings, specific goals, recommended interventions (such as toileting schedules, ensuring access to other nearby toilets when the main facility is occupied, dietary modifications, or pelvic floor exercises), appropriate continence product recommendations, and clear documentation for consistent implementation across all care shifts. The management plan is regularly reviewed and updated as the resident's needs change.