MANAGEMENT OF INCONTINENCE IN THE FEMALE GERIATRIC POPULATION: BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

Abstract

During the aging process, the female lower urinary tract begins to show changes such as muscle atrophy due to estrogen deficiency, replacement of muscle tissue by fat tissue and a consequent reduction in the contraction strength of pelvic floor muscles, which may lead to involuntary urine loss. Urinary incontinence is not an event that directly threatens the lives of people, but for 37-57% of elderly women it negatively affects their quality of life. The treatment of urinary incontinence uses both surgical and conservative treatment methods. Conservative treatment is commonly preferred because conservative methods, in contrast to surgery, have little risk of mortality and are simple, easy to implement, less invasive, more reliable, and requires a lower level of patient compliance than more invasive urinary incontinence treatments. Behavioral treatment, which is a component of conservative treatment in the geriatric female population with urinary incontinence, is used as the first choice of treatment. Behavioral treatment methods include pelvic floor muscle exercises, bladder training, timing of voiding, and developing healthy lifestyle behaviors. Behavioral treatment methods require an individual\'s active participation and health care professionals' time and effort. Most elderly people experience a decrease in urinary incontinence symptoms and an improvement in their quality of life with behavioral therapy. This paper includes a literature review that describes behavioral treatments, the first choice of treatment for urinary incontinence with the geriatric female population.