ABSTRACT
The prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) has been shown to consistently increase with age and is overall higher for women. The identification and treatment of UI in the geriatric population presents an ongoing challenge due to significant underreporting of symptoms. People with UI are at higher risk for skin breakdown due to the ammonia content of urine. The financial impact of UI is significant when considering both direct and indirect costs. Functional UI is caused by conditions external to the urinary system and is considered to be a form of transient UI. There are six main types of urinary incontinence that are classified by symptomatology and underlying etiology, including urgency UI, stress UI, mixed UI, overflow UI, transient UI, and functional UI. Many studies have attempted to identify risk factors of UI in the geriatric population. The treatment of UI in the older adults requires a multidisciplinary and often step-wise approach.
