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NDIS Continence Assessments| Melbourne
Personalised continence assessments by Registered Nurses supporting dignity, comfort, independence, and wellbeing. .
Experienced Registered Nurses dedicated to your success.
Respectful assessment. Clear clinical evidence. Practical recommendations.
Continence concerns can affect much more than going to the toilet. They may affect a participant’s skin, sleep, comfort, confidence, dignity, relationships, independence and ability to participate in everyday activities.
A continence assessment is a detailed bladder and bowel assessment completed by a qualified Registered Nurse. It helps identify what is happening, what may be contributing to the problem and what support may improve or safely manage the participant’s needs.
At Loica Care, we look beyond continence products. We consider the whole person, their daily routine, disability-related needs, environment, goals and the support available to them.
What does “continence” mean?
Continence means being able to control or manage the bladder and bowel. A participant may experience:
- Urinary leakage
- Bowel leakage
- Difficulty reaching or using the toilet
- Urgency or frequent toileting
- Night-time leakage
- Constipation or diarrhoea
- Difficulty emptying the bladder or bowel
- Reduced awareness of the need to use the toilet
- Skin irritation caused by moisture
- Dependence on another person for toileting or personal care
- Difficulty managing continence products independently
These concerns may be influenced by disability, mobility, communication, cognition, medications, diet, hydration, the environment or an underlying health condition.
What does a continence assessment examine?
Every participant is different. The Registered Nurse will assess the areas relevant to the participant’s individual needs. The assessment may examine:
Bladder health
- Urinary frequency and urgency
- Daytime and overnight leakage
- Awareness of the need to pass urine
- Difficulty starting or completing urination
- Possible retention symptoms
- Pain or discomfort
- History of urinary tract infections
- Catheter or urinary appliance needs
- Fluid intake
- Information recorded in a bladder diary
Bowel health
- Usual bowel routine
- Constipation or diarrhoea
- Bowel leakage
- Urgency
- Difficulty passing or completely emptying the bowel
- Stool consistency
- Pain or bleeding
- Laxatives and current bowel-management strategies
- Diet and fluid intake
- Information recorded in a bowel diary
Daily function and toileting
- Mobility and balance
- Transfers on and off the toilet
- Ability to manage clothing
- Hand strength and dexterity
- Communication and understanding
- Memory and awareness
- Ability to complete personal hygiene
- Time required to reach the toilet
- Assistance required during the day or overnight
- Safety of the current toileting routine
Environment and equipment
- Toilet location and accessibility
- Bathroom layout
- Lighting, privacy and safety
- Toilet height
- Transfer equipment
- Bed and chair protection
- Product storage and disposal
- Access to toilets when away from home
- Possible need for an Occupational Therapy assessment
Skin health
- Skin irritation and redness
- Moisture-associated skin damage
- Pressure injury risks
- Current hygiene and skin-care routine
- Frequency of product changes
- Whether current products are causing leakage, pressure, discomfort or skin problems
Current products and strategies The nurse may review:
- The type and size of products currently used
- How many products are used each day and night
- Product fit, absorbency and comfort
- Leakage frequency
- Whether the product supports dignity and participation
- Previous products or strategies trialled
- Laundry and disposal requirements
- Whether a structured product trial is required
Products are only one part of continence management. Recommendations should be based on the participant’s assessed needs rather than their diagnosis alone.
How can a continence assessment support an NDIS plan?
A continence assessment can provide clinical evidence explaining:
- What continence support the participant needs
- Why the support is required
- How the need relates to the participant’s disability
- How the concern affects everyday activities
- What products or assistance have already been trialled
- What support is clinically recommended
- How much support may be required and how often
- What may happen if suitable support is not provided
- How the recommendation may help the participant work towards their goals
Current NDIS guidance states that a continence-related assessment should describe the participant’s situation, disability-related functional limitations, products already used or trialled, frequency of use and the evidence supporting the health professional’s recommendations. Learn about NDIS continence-related assessments.
The report may be useful:
- When preparing for an NDIS planning meeting
- During a plan reassessment
- When continence needs have changed
- When current funding no longer reflects assessed needs
- When requesting disability-related continence products
- When assistance with toileting or personal care is required
- When support workers require participant-specific training
- When equipment or further professional assessment is needed
The NDIS recognises continence as a type of disability-related health support that may be funded when it is an NDIS support and relates to the participant’s disability. Read about disability-related health supports.
Can a continence assessment guarantee NDIS funding?
No. A continence assessment provides clinical evidence and recommendations. It does not guarantee that the NDIA will approve a particular product, service or amount of funding. The Registered Nurse makes clinical recommendations. The NDIA makes the funding decision. The NDIA considers whether each requested support:
- Relates to the participant’s disability
- Helps the participant work towards their goals
- Is likely to be effective and beneficial
- Represents value for money
- Works alongside informal and mainstream supports
- Is an NDIS support rather than treatment that should be provided by the health system
The Loica Care approach
Loica Care continence assessments are:
- Completed by a qualified Registered Nurse
- Respectful, private and participant-centred
- Focused on both bladder and bowel needs
- Based on clinical evidence
- Written in clear, understandable language
- Connected to disability-related functional needs and goals
- Focused on practical management, not products alone
- Transparent about what the assessment can and cannot establish
Our 72-hour service target
Loica Care aims to:
- Arrange or commence the assessment within 72 hours of initial contact, subject to availability, location, consent and receipt of the required information.
- Complete the written report within 72 hours after all required evidence has been received, including relevant bladder or bowel diaries, records and supporting documents.
Clinical quality and participant safety remain our priority. Additional time may be required when information is incomplete, product trials are needed, concerning symptoms require medical review or further professional assessment is required.
Request a continence assessment
If you are an NDIS participant, family member, nominee or support coordinator, contact Loica Care to discuss your continence assessment needs.
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Loica Care — respectful continence care, clear clinical evidence and practical recommendations.
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