Guiding principles to support the safe and appropriate use of medications for the management of urinary incontinence in people living with dementia

Urinary incontinence, the accidental or involuntary loss of urine, is a distressing and often stigmatised condition that can greatly impact quality of life. Urinary incontinence is more common among individuals living with dementia, particularly in residential aged care, and may require different management considerations. While non-medication management is recommended as first-line, many individuals do consider or use medication at some point.

Supported by a Dr Stuart and Bonnie Bartle Project Grant from Dementia Australia, we worked with individuals living with dementia, carers and healthcare professionals to develop the first co-designed resources to support shared decision-making regarding when to use, how to monitor, and when to stop medications for urinary incontinence for people living with dementia.

The 10 Guiding Principles are designed to support healthcare professionals in delivering person-centred care and help people living with dementia and their carers to feel informed and empowered to engage in shared decision making. The co-designed resources include:

• 10 Guiding Principles to support the safe and appropriate use of medications for the management of urinary incontinence in people living with dementia – Healthcare professional version
• 10 Guiding Principles to support the safe and appropriate use of medications for the management of urinary incontinence in people living with dementia – Consumer version
• Medication summary table that compares safety and efficacy of medications for urinary incontinence for people with dementia to be used together with the 10 Guiding Principles

Contact for more information

For more information about the resources, please contact Dr Amanda Cross (Amanda.Cross@monash.edu).