Disposable Absorbent Swab Urine Collecting in Cognitively Impaired and/or Frequent to Fully Incontinent Individuals.

This whitepaper examines the prevalent challenges and negative implications of using disposable absorbent product swabs for urine collection in cognitively impaired and/or frequent to fully incontinent individuals. Despite the growing use of this method in healthcare settings, it needs to be revised and or eliminated due to the high risk of contamination, leading to misdiagnoses, inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, patient discomfort, and wasteful healthcare spending. Through an analysis of the current practices, this paper highlights the need for innovative solutions prioritizing patient dignity, diagnostics accuracy, and care efficiency. The objective is to focus on scientifically researching and developing validated urine collection methods that reduce the risk of contamination.

Importance of infection control and continence management plans in assisted living communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A robust and comprehensive infection control plan in a senior living community is a must. Delirium manifestations of Covid-19 and or Urinary Tract Infections, may be confused or misdiagnosed with dementia symptoms in memory care residents. A robust incontinence care program is a key pillar of infection control to reduce symptoms causing hospitalization. Misdiagnosis, transfer infections, acute treatment dementia challenges, worsening incontinence are all risks of residents being hospitalized. A comprehensive incontinence assessment, plan, and education program are all paramount to seeing a reduction in hospitalizations and misdiagnosis of Covid-19 and other symptoms.

Incontinence affects every aspect and stakeholder of an assisted living community.

A total incontinence management program will benefit a community's administration, nurses, caregivers, families and most importantly, residents. An incontinence program helps reduce the risk of incidences such as agitation, urinary tract infection, falls and skin complications which assisted living and memory care communities are trying to prevent. The correct evaluation tools increase the likelihood of successful outcomes because the program has to be the right program for the resident. After evaluation of the level of incontinence, the resident can then be enrolled. This article provides a practical toolkit for assessment of a resident in assisted living general or memory care populations in addition to the different types of programs a resident can enroll into after evaluation completed.