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Continence Care
At Adaptive Nursing, the Registered Nurse (RN) has extensive experience and training to assess your continence care needs.
The RN will assess your condition, including liaising with your GP and specialist for your medical history information. This helps the RN to complete a continence assessment, to help provide professional continence advice and management, tailored to suit your continence needs.
Without the correct care and products, incontinence can lead to feeling socially isolated and sad; choosing to stay home to avoid embarrassing situations (a common coping method). The costs associated in dealing with continence care needs can be a strain to household budgets.
The clinical nurse will provide personal and confidential education and support with practical help. This includes sourcing suitable disposable products and continence medical supplies (aids such as commode chairs, bedpans, kylie sheets, bed pads) to help limit continence difficulties. The RN will apply for eligible Government assistance to help fund the cost of products, using funding you are entitled to (subsidies you may not be aware of).
Our aim at Adaptive Nursing, is to help you live a life, well lived.
Continence Needs Met with Confidence
There are many different types of continence products on the markets to suit various conditions based on diagnosis, age, best treatment regimes and lifestyle needs.
Disposable Continence Products
Adaptive Nursing has key networks to assist you to choose the best options and deliver products that best suits your condition. Products you may need are dependent on:
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Type of continence condition diagnosed
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Physiological and psychological conditions that determine product use (Physical disabilities / Dementia)
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Clinical assessment outcome
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Type of product needed to suit condition
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Most comfortable and best fit, that prevents leakage
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Appropriate holding capacity needed
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Costs of products if self-funded
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Mobility and strength to self-manage appropriately.
Urinary Catheter Management (IDC, SPC)
Some participants require urinary catheters, which may be indwelling catheter (IDC), suprapubic catheter (SPC) or intermittent. Our Clinical Nurse Consultant is urology trained and qualified to perform these catheter changes as required, (per GP medical authority), attending to you, in the privacy of your own home. We can also teach a person intermittent catheterisation and provide ongoing support, with home reviews scheduled, as required.
A report and quote for service and products needed, can be supplied to planners, Local Area Coordinators (LACs), support coordinators, plan managers and those who self-managed their funds. We can recommend, apply for funding if you meet the eligible criteria, quote and order products on your behalf, and arrange a follow up visit, to ensure all requirements have been met.
The RN can provide training to you or your care giver in the daily care of a catheter, day/night bag, flip flow device to help you self-manage well. The RN will demonstrate, and teach safe techniques, to help ensure efficacy of products is maintained, whilst helping you to gain confidence using the devices.
Stoma Management of ileostomy or colostomy
Colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease are the major conditions necessitating ostomy surgeries. An ostomy may be permanent or temporary. Each procedure results in a stoma, which is the end of the small or large intestine that can be seen protruding through the abdominal wall.
At Adaptive Nursing our clinical nurse consultant can help you:
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Change your stoma bags
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Ensure your stoma bag fits correctly over your stoma
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Make sure that your bags are cut to fit snugly (but not too tight) around your stoma
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Prevent output from seeping underneath the wafer that may cause sore skin and soiling
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Help check the size and shape of your stoma regularly as it can change over time, especially if you’ve recently had surgery or lost / gained weight
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Provide support if you’re struggling to manually cut the plates using your template, by precutting the plates to fit your stoma for all your bag changes
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Support you in making templates provided in the box with your stoma supplies to measure your stoma to help cut new plates, if your stoma shape has changed
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Help place orders for stoma supplies with the Queensland Stoma Association, completing forms and sending for product delivery needed
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Arrange referral and advocacy of your behalf for specialists’ for advice or appointments needed, to further improve and manage your stoma management needs.
Bowel Management
Participants requiring interventional bowel management will be included in assessment, creating and reviewing an individual workable bowel management plan.
Persons with spinal injuries and conditions affecting the bowel can be assisted with complex bowel care plans. Support workers can be provided with training to enact the daily care routines if needed.
Adaptive Nursing can provide assistance to help tailor an individual bowel program that works, to incorporate diet, fluids, physical activity, medications and bowel care techniques specific to your needs. We can organise additional referrals to other professionals to achieve a workable regime together.
Specific product quotes are supplied to enable you to plan your funding to meet your needs.
Continence Assessment- What to Expect
The aim of Adaptive Nursing continence assessment is to determine the cause of continence concerns, rectify some conditions through medication or training, and ensure that incontinence is managed appropriately. This will help foster your confidence and comfort needs, so you get to do the things, you enjoy, without worry or embarrassment. This may involve lifestyle changes and product purchases. The booked home visit which generally require about 2 hours.
The Clinical nurse will ask you a series of questions to complete a health history including details about your disability, health and medications. She will do a urine test, abdominal examination (if appropriate) and functional assessment, in relation to toileting ability and continence if required.
As a Clinical Nurse, thorough assessment will include:
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Checking your medical History and medications
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Liaising with other specialists, and allied health professionals involved
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Check gynaecological history (females only)
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a 3-day diary of food intake recorded prior
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a 3-day diary of your bowel management recorded prior
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a 3-day diary of input of fluids you drink, how much you drink, how often and the output recorded prior
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what incontinence products you use and if suitable.
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Complete a Continence Assessment document, to use as evidence for case manager and funding applications to justify subsidised products ordered.
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Arrange a free trial of continence products samples to be delivered to your door.
With your consent, I will write to your doctor, specialist or case manager to explain what has been suggested or about identified findings, that may need further medical intervention. When you have trialed the products delivered, and decided what was most suitable, a follow up clinical visit will be arranged, to apply for products needed, under the eligible government funding subsidy Schemes.
Continence Funding
There are major funding schemes in Australia that may be able to offer you financial assistance to purchase the incontinence products you need. If you are currently receiving benefits as part of a community-based assistance program and you need incontinence support but are not receiving the required funding as part of your package, Adaptive Nursing can assist you and your provider to receive this funding.
We will conduct an assessment, provide you with trial products and apply to funding schemes where you meet the eligibility for products delivered. Alternatively, you can purchase your own products with funds deposited into your bank account.
In the days after the home visit, we will provide washable products, disposable aids and skin care samples, delivered to your home. We will offer suggestions and recommendations for lifestyle and products to promote continence and / or manage incontinence. This information is compiled into a report with a quote to supply the agreed products. A regular service to manage catheter changes and continence reviews can also be arranged.
Click on web sites and contacts below, for further continence support information
National Continence Program (NCP) Help line ph 1800 330 066
Funding Schemes for the Supply of Continence Products
There are major funding schemes in Australia that may be able to offer you financial assistance to purchase the incontinence products you need. With most schemes, you need to list the appropriate incontinence aids you require. This is usually completed as part of the Adaptive Nursing assessment process.
If you are currently receiving benefits as part of a community-based assistance program and you need incontinence support but are not receiving the required funding as part of your package, you should contact your Home Care Package Case coordinator and request an upgraded assessment to include incontinence support funding.
The Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) for permanent and severe incontinence
The Continence Aids Payment Scheme is an Australian Government scheme which provides some funds for the purchase of incontinence products. The CAPS funding is a fixed amount of annual funding. There are no additional funds available when all the CAPS funds are used in the year. The yearly amount usually increases a little each year as dictated by the CPI (Consumer Price Index) and this is decided at the end of each financial year.
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General eligibility criteria:
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You must be over 5 years of age, and
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You must have permanent and severe incontinence
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You are automatically eligible if:
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You have an incontinence problem which is directly related to a neurological condition, or
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You have an acceptable incontinence issue and are in receipt of a Government pension
Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (MASS)
The Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme Subsidy funding for medical aids and equipment is available to eligible Queenslanders with permanent/stable conditions or disabilities. Aids and equipment are subsidy funded either on a permanent loan basis, private ownership or through the supply of consumables.
The MASS General Guidelines (PDF 460 kB) assist prescribers in submitting applications to MASS and are updated regularly to reflect new requirements and eligibility criteria. In general, clients may be eligible for assistance under MASS if they:
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are a permanent resident of Queensland
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have a permanent/stable condition or disability
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hold a pensioner concession card, health care card or Queensland Government Senior Card
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meet specific clinical eligibility criteria relevant to the aid.
Relevant application guidelines and forms for each scheme or aid/equipment provide detailed information regarding eligibility requirements.
My Aged Care Support funding for elderly Australians
My Aged Care is an Australian Government scheme aimed at supporting people in their home and daily life through the Home Care Packages Program
My Aged Care is designed to assist people to live independently in their own home. This scheme aims to work with a recipient who can choose their care and services which best meet their needs and goals.
There are 4 levels of home care packages designed to meet the different levels of care needed.
Eligibility is dependent on an aged care assessment conducted by an assessor who:
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Discusses the person’s care needs and then
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Determines the level of care needed.
After the assessment is completed, the Government pays a subsidy amount for the level of the home care package to the person’s chosen home care provider. Incontinence aids can be included within the care package, but the need should be discussed during the assessment process and with the home care provider.
To access this scheme the person, their care provider or their family need to contact the My Aged Care by phoning 1800 200 422 or www.myagedcare.gov.au
My Aged Care Support funding for elderly Australians
My Aged Care is an Australian Government scheme aimed at supporting people in their home and daily life through the Home Care Packages Program
My Aged Care is designed to assist people to live independently in their own home. This scheme aims to work with a recipient who can choose their care and services which best meet their needs and goals.
There are 4 levels of home care packages designed to meet the different levels of care needed.
Eligibility is dependent on an aged care assessment conducted by an assessor who:
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Discusses the person’s care needs and then
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Determines the level of care needed.
After the assessment is completed, the Government pays a subsidy amount for the level of the home care package to the person’s chosen home care provider. Incontinence aids can be included within the care package, but the need should be discussed during the assessment process and with the home care provider. To access this scheme the person, their care provider or their family need to contact the My Aged Care by phoning 1800 200 422 or www.myagedcare.gov.au
The National Disability Insurance Scheme provides funding for people with disability-for assistance needed
The National Disability Insurance Scheme is an Australian national scheme providing funding of support for people with disabilities
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General eligibility criteria:
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people with a permanent disability that significantly affects their ability to take part in everyday activities, or
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people with a developmental delay
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Must be less than 65 years old when first accessing the scheme
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Must be an Australian citizen and live in Australia where the NDIS is available
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People accessing the scheme who have an incontinence issue can request assistance for their incontinence needs.
To access the NDIS the person or their support person should contact NDIS by phoning the NDIA on 1800 800 110
Further information: www.ndis.gov.au/people-disability
Easy to read reports and product quotes have proven invaluable for many participants, their family, support coordinators and NDIS planners.
Adaptive Nursing can provide an assessment, allow participants and their carers to speak frankly and openly to the Clinical Nurse who understands their problem and can offer real advice that enhances quality of life.
There are many products on the market for incontinence. Having a clinical justification and accurate quote to include in your NDIS funding can make this most basic need easily met. Having continence under control means you can get on with the rest of your day with confidence. Support workers and carers can access training to assist participants with their continence needs and the products they need
The Department of Veteran's Affairs provides support to members of the veterans community
The Department of Veteran's Affairs provides continence assistance to eligible members of the veteran community
The aim of this scheme is to encourage members of the Veterans community to be independent and self-reliant in their own home. Through a health care assessment the provision of aids and appliances is designed to help to minimise the impact of disabilities, enhance quality of life and maximise independence. DVA provides equipment and consumables according to each person's assessed clinical need, as part of the overall management of their health care.
General eligibility criteria:
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You have a Gold Card, White Card (only for conditions accepted by DVA as related to service), or
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You are a veteran from an allied country (only for conditions accepted by DVA as related to service)
To access this scheme the eligible person should discuss their needs with their doctor or a qualified health care professional.
Further information: www.dva.gov.au
How can we help?
Our RNs at Adaptive Nursing will tailor your services, to suit your personal preferences and needs. Give us a call on ph 0458 486 767 , or fill out our online contact form to get started on your journey.