Nursing management of altered patterns of elimination

ALTERATION in bladder and bowel A elimination is a concern for nurses in all settings, including the home. Urinary and bowel dysfunction are frequently encountered when caring for the elderly.1 Urinary incontinence affects 5 % to 15 % of the elderly living in the community, 40 % in the hospital, and over 50 % in extended care facilities. ’ Resnick and Yalla ’ report that primary risk factors include neurologi-cal impairment, immobility, and female sex. Neither advanced age nor chronic uri-nary tract infection are risk factors. Incontinence can be emotionally and financially costly to both the individual an