Incontinence Week: Geraldton nurse urges sufferers to put embarrassment aside and seek help

Dawn Hall has a simple, straightforward message to ageing folk: talk about it, and take action. Mrs Hall is the only continence nurse in Geraldton, having worked for Silver Chain here for nearly 25 years. “Invest in Continence” is the message of World Continence Week, which runs until Monday. “It’s a worldwide problem, just like COVID-19,” Mrs Hall said. “The incidence of incontinence rises with age, and our customers are ageing. “So many (people) don’t want to talk about it — they are too embarrassed to. “Sadly, people are isolating themselves and staying at home for fear of not being close to a toilet and wetting themselves. “But their first port of call should be their GP. There are numerous people here in Geraldton who can help, like specialist physiotherapists and a multi-disciplinary team, including dieticians, OT (occupational therapists) people and other health professionals. “There is no need to be alone — we have people in Geraldton who can help you. “I see people who don’t seek assistance until this problem becomes quite advanced. “Don’t keep to yourself. Talk about it, and act.” TOP TIPS Stay active: Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Eat well: Include a wide range of fruit (two serves a day) and veggies (five serves a day), cereals and grains (five serves a day), legumes, seeds and nuts. Drink well: Ensure you drink enough to accompany your fibre intake, prioritising water and maintaining hydration to aid digestive health. Locate and exercise your pelvic floor muscles: Well-functioning pelvic floor muscles are your insurance against incontinence. For more information contact the Continence Foundation of Australia. The National Continence Helpline is 1800 33 00 66.