Following Acquired Brain Injury, the person may experience bladder and/or bowel dysfunction . Incontinence increases the risk of pressure ulcer development due to the chemical irritation of the skin by urine/bodily fluids. This is exacerbated if the incontinence is not promptly addressed and the person’s exposure to bodily fluids is prolonged.
There can be many contributory factors that make it difficult to maintain continence arising from physical, cognitive or communicative impairments. These may include:
- Delayed or absent ability to recognise signals that indicate the need for the toilet.
- Impaired mobility affecting ability to get to the toilet in time.
- Impaired ability to communicate the need for the toilet or a change of clothes etc.
- Impaired memory for location of toilet facilities.
- Decreased attentional abilities causing reduced awareness of the problem.
- Anxiety and/or agitation contributing to reduced cooperation with personal hygiene and care interventions.