Incontinence management innovations for healthcare facilities

Incontinence management is rapidly improving courtesy of new technologies and compassionate approaches. LESLEY BARTON, National Clinical and Training Manager at Bunzl & Atlas McNeil Healthcare Community, charts a suite of available innovations.

The management of incontinence in healthcare facilities is a critical challenge that affects patient dignity, staff workload and operational costs. A 2023 study in the Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing found that nearly 75% of long-term care residents suffer some kind of urinary incontinence, which raises fall risk by 30% and adds $9.6 billion to yearly healthcare expenses.¹

Recent developments include advanced moisture sensors that notify healthcare professionals before any leakage occurs, reducing the risk of skin problems and maintaining dignity. Additionally, advanced absorbent materials now combine superior fluid retention with odour control while maintaining skin health, while streamlined documentation systems connect with electronic health records to enable pattern recognition and tailored treatment planning.

Plus, facilities implementing comprehensive incontinence protocols report significant improvements in quality metrics, resident satisfaction and operational efficiency. The development of these tools and techniques reflects a move towards more dignified, effective and efficient incontinence treatment that helps patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.

Main obstacles

Healthcare facilities encounter a variety of difficulties that have a big influence on how they provide care and allocate resources when addressing incontinence. In the US, the American Health Care Association reported that from February 2020 to December 2022, residential care facilities experienced the worst job loss of any healthcare sector, making it hard to consistently follow incontinence care plans.²

Physical infrastructure constraints make management techniques even more difficult because many hospitals lack good care areas that preserve patient privacy during evaluations and interventions. These challenges become more complex with different types of incontinence that may require specific routines and support. This space limitation increases the physical strain on caregivers, hence aggravating occupational injuries and burnout.

Another important difficulty is the complexity of handling multiple chronic conditions. Many patients experience incontinence alongside cognitive impairments, mobility limitations or chronic conditions that require integrated care approaches. This requires advanced tools for assessment and personalised care plans. Financial limitations also slow development since good incontinence solutions and monitoring technology call for significant investment.

Furthermore, reimbursement plans sometimes fail to sufficiently fund thorough incontinence management programs even though these programs are known to play a major role in helping hospitals reduce medical complications. Addressing these interrelated issues requires methodical approaches that integrate technological innovation, regular employee training and supportive organisational policies.

Innovative technologies

Smart monitoring devices have modernised incontinence management for elderly citizens in long-term care facilities. Wearable sensors with small form factors now monitor moisture levels and send real-time notifications to employee devices before a leak occurs. BMC Nursing reported in 2023 that this treatment reduced the incidence of skin disintegration by 65%.³ The automated algorithms in these sensor systems are used to recognise individual voiding habits so that preventive schedules can be directed to the needs of each resident.

Biodegradable superabsorbent polymers derived from sustainable materials represent another important development. These next-generation fabrics protect patient skin with better permeability while lowering environmental impacts. Robotic assistance technologies, such as mobility aids, are another innovation, now reducing possible geriatric injuries by making it easier for elderly patients with limited mobility to get to the restroom.

Then there’s electronic documentation platforms, which integrate with facility management systems to provide some actionable data for monitoring key quality indicators in incontinence care. These platforms enable healthcare facilities to actually develop evidence-based protocols that improve clinical outcomes and operational efficiency in elderly care environments.

Best practices

Effective incontinence care usually starts with systematic assessment protocols. These protocols should assess personal preferences affecting continence management as well as psychological needs, environmental concerns and physiological elements. For instance, at the National Institute of Health, a team including nurses, pelvic floor therapists and dietitians collaborated to reduce catheter reliance by 30% in residents with urinary incontinence by tailoring hydration schedules, strengthening exercises and bladder-friendly diets.⁴

Workflow integration depends on well-defined documentation systems, interoperability and using consistent language across different medical departments to ease multidisciplinary communication. Designating continence experts for geriatric patients helps to ensure consistency, accountability and compliance for following procedures.

Personalised care plans respect each patient’s choices and how they prefer to manage their needs. Ways to respect privacy include using simple language when discussing needs, scheduling bathroom assistance around individual routines rather than staff convenience and conducting appropriate screening during care. Staff empowerment through regular training improves confidence in addressing sensitive topics with residents and families. Regular competency assessments ensure care techniques remain current with the updated practices.

Facilities should set up helpful feedback processes that allow caregivers to suggest workflow improvement based on their actual experience. Environmental modifications like optimal bathroom accessibility, adequate lighting and clear wayfinding cues support independent toileting when possible, preserving dignity and reducing care burden.

Improving patient dignity and comfort

Patient-centred design has transformed incontinence care by giving dignity equal priority with clinical efficacy. Discreet wearable solutions with odour-neutralising technology and seamless profile designs allow residents to maintain social engagement without fear of embarrassment. These developments go beyond discretion to take into account the physical experiences that patients go through.

Product development is now influenced by sensory factors; moisture-wicking textiles help regulate skin temperature and avoid the discomfort that comes with conventional products. With voice-activated assistance systems, users with mobility limitations are able to ask for assistance privately.

This reduces the need for call buttons in many hospital environments. Trauma-informed care principles can be incorporated into staff training since managing incontinence can cause distress for people with histories of abuse or personal autonomy issues. This psychological dimension of care emphasises choice, clear communication and respecting personal boundaries during intimate care interactions.

Safe, accessible and dignified premises, along with adaptive equipment, are factors that support independence and safety in a healthcare centre. These thoughtful approaches help shift incontinence care from reactive to proactive, making these manageable conditions in which patient preferences are still central to care planning.

The future

Incontinence management is rapidly improving as a result of new technologies and compassionate approaches. Smart monitoring systems, sustainable materials and tailored care plans are coming together to make what used to be a big problem much easier to handle. Healthcare facilities that use these new ideas are seeing better results for patients, happier staff and smoother operations.

The future looks bright with more discreet options that respect patients’ dignity while still providing good care. As using sustainable materials becomes more common and personalised care plans are used more often, healthcare facilities can look forward to more improvements that meet both medical needs and respect for patients. These changes show a positive move towards incontinence management that values comprehensive patient-centred care while improving quality.

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^{1. LeBlanc K, Furtado S, Mings D, Martin M, Evans M, Eaves D, Skountrianos G. A cost-effectiveness model to determine ostomy-related costs of care and health outcomes among people with an ostomy in Canada using a ceramide-infused skin barrier. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2023;50(1):31–38. doi: 10.1097/WON.0000000000000935}

^{2. Data show nursing homes continue to experience worst job loss of any health care sector. AHCA; 2023. Accessed 16 June, 2025. https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Press-Releases/Pages/Data-Show-Nursing-Homes-Continue-to-Experience-Worst-Job-Loss-Of-Any-Health-Care-Sector.aspx}

^{3. Kooij L, Peters GM, Doggen CJM, van Harten WH. Remote continuous monitoring with wireless wearable sensors in clinical practice, nurses’ perspectives on factors affecting implementation: a qualitative study. BMC Nurs. 2022;21(1):53. doi: 10.1186/s12912-022-00832-2}

^{4. Cho ST, Kim KH. Pelvic floor muscle exercise and training for coping with urinary incontinence. J Exerc Rehabil. 2021;17(6):379–387. doi: 10.12965/jer.2142666.333}

Lesley Barton is the National Clinical and Training Manager at Bunzl & Atlas McNeil Healthcare Community (AMHC), with more than 40 years of healthcare experience. A registered nurse, midwife, and continence nurse specialist, she transitioned into healthcare sales and management, leading education in continence, wound care and medical consumables. She serves as a Board Director at the Continence Foundation of Australia and founded the Clinical Care Connections (CCC) program, playing a key role in developing AMHC’s education and training initiatives to support best practices in clinical care.

Top image credit: iStock.com/Cecilie_Arcurs