There are many organizations, programs, and publications that provide educational resources for you and your family about incontinence (both urinary and bowel).
Many of the organizations below also provide information on similar health topics. These are trusted sites for further information and resources.
180 Medical – Education Scholarships – 180 Medical is honored to have a scholarship program to help those with spinal cord injuries, spina bifida, transverse myelitis, and/or a neurogenic bladder. Realizing the financial burdens that exist for many of these families, the company has developed the 180 Medical Scholarship Program to honor these young adults who pursue goals of higher education.
Affordable Care Act – many changes are coming in regards to health insurance in the US. To help you navigate the changes, the US government has launched a website to help answer these questions at Healthcare.gov.
Aging in Place Council – an association of service providers in your town who are dedicated to helping aging persons have a healthy and comfortable life at home. In many cities, they have Chapters in which the service providers work together to assist the aging persons in their community.
American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) – as the leader in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery AUGS promotes the highest quality patient care through excellence in education, research and advocacy. The website has patient resources, including a physician finder tool.
Antidote – this is a source for patients to locate clinical trials. Many people qualify to participate in clinical trials in the US. Check to see if a clinical trial on urinary or bowel incontinence might be looking for participants in your area.
Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support (APOP) – founded to establish awareness of pelvic organ prolapse and provide guidance and support to women experiencing the condition.
Dare to Age Well – aims to bust the myths surrounding urinary incontinence because urine leakage causes problems to older women ranging from inconvenience and expense through to shame and loneliness. Urine loss also increases the risk of falls. To find out more about your bladder health try their Dare to Take Control Tool here.
Diaper Banks – This is a listing of known diaper banks in the US that supply adult incontinence products along with infant and juvenile diaper products.
Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence (ERIC) – although this organization is based in the UK, the information provided on childhood continence is universal. The organization works to reduce the suffering to children and young people caused by bed-wetting, daytime wetting, soiling and associated conditions and their prevalence.
Exercise and Fitness As You Age – If your physician has given you clearance to exercise, this page has good advice on how to slowly begin and build an exercise program. Maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle may reduce incontinence episodes. The website is sponsored by by HelpGuide.org.
Financial Aid for Disabled Students – a listing of scholarships available in the US and Canada for different academic levels. Click on the name of the scholarship for more information.
Find a Urogynecologist Tool – an international website that helps people locate a urogynecologist in their area. This was developed by the International Urogynecological Assocation.
Glossary – This is a link to a Glossary of terms, which is located on the Continence Product Advisor website and not on Continence Central.
Health In Aging – information for older Americans and caregivers on a wide range of topics associated with aging. This resource was created by the Health in Aging Foundation, the official foundation of the American Geriatrics Society.
HealthUnlocked is our partner for an Online Incontinence Support Group or Community. You can join the support group now!
How to Receive Incontinence Supplies through Medicaid – use this interactive web page to find out how you may qualify and obtain incontinence supplies in your state through your local Medicaid program.
The Incontinence Institute – The Incontinence Institute is committed to connecting the millions of individuals suffering with issues of incontinence to highly skilled physicians who can offer long-term, effective solutions. The Incontinence Institute is devoted to providing compassionate, personalized care and improving quality of life. Their website is www.MyConfidentLife.com where you can find more information or how to contact them.
Interstitial Cystitis Network – this website has in it’s Patients area a number of resources that will be helpful for anyone looking for information on reduced pricing for drugs, how to navigate disability forms and applications, low income resources, etc.
International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders – a resource for trustworthy digestive health information, support, and assistance about functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders (FGIMDs).
Let’s Talk About Bowel Control – The Bowel Control Awareness Campaign (BCAC) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Bowel Control Awareness Campaign and its Web resources raises awareness of bowel control problems, also known as fecal incontinence.
Managing Life with Incontinence – book site for the book with the same title. In this book you will receive guidance from leading experts about how to take control of your life — even when that life includes incontinence. In addition to information about treating and living with incontinence are chapters on building resiliency, communicating with friends, family, and health professionals, and overcoming stigma. Book published by The Simon Foundation for Continence.
Mayo Clinic – Mayo Clinic on Managing Incontinence is a 224 page hard-cover book; a guide to successfully managing incontinence. It explains the causes of incontinence and what you can do to relieve your symptoms and enjoy a better quality of life.
National Association for Continence -dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with incontinence, voiding dysfunction, and related pelvic floor disorders.
National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers – NAPGCM is a non-profit professional development organization whose mission is to advance professional geriatric care management through education, collaboration, and leadership. A professional Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) is a health and human services specialist who helps families who are caring for older relatives. The GCM is trained and experienced in any of several fields related to care management, including nursing, gerontology, social work, or psychology. This website helps you locate a GCM in your area.
National Council on Aging – Improving the health and economic security of 10 million older adults by 2020.
National Disability Navigator Resource Collaborative – The mission of NDNRC is to provide cross-disability information and support to Navigators and other enrollment specialists thereby ensuring people with disabilities receive accurate information when selecting and enrolling in insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces.
National Incontinence Tips & Advice – National Incontinence has a well-developed area that provides all kinds of tips and information for patients, from removing urine stains to how to talk to your doctor about your incontinence to comparison charts on product types.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) – conducts and supports research on many of the most serious diseases affecting public health. Provides many free publications on varying topics on incontinence via their website in both English and Spanish, including a Bladder Diary.
Paying for Senior Care – Aging Americans are struggling to pay for home care, assisted living and long term care. Paying for Senior Care’s mission is to help solve this puzzle by providing tools and information to: 1) find financial assistance for elder care, 2) understand and lower long-term care costs, 3) find affordable home care and assisted living, 4) understand Medicare, Medicaid and veternans benefits, 5) make home modifications to enable aging in place, and 6) find benefits counseling and eldercare financial advisors. Their website also has information on reimbursement of disposable adult absorbent products for incontinence.
The Simon Foundation for Continence – dedicated to bringing the topic of incontinence out into the open, removing the stigma surrounding incontinence, and providing help and hope for people with incontinence, their families, and the health professionals who provide their care. Their Fact Sheets Library includes helpful information for “At Home Caregivers”.
Social Security and Disability Resource Center – Written by a former claims examiner, this information may be helpful for individuals who have the need to file for Social Security Disability benefits.
Society of Urologic Nursing and Associates – SUNA establishes the scope and standards of urologic nursing practice. Their website provides a Patient Information Resource Center.
Talking with Your Doctor – Discussing Sensitive Topics – This National Institutes of Health (NIH) page provides some good tips on preparing for your doctor appointment.
Traveling with Disabilities – information on airline travel from two sources. Cheapflights.com
Underactive Bladder Foundation – a caring team of people who are working together to spread awareness about Underactive Bladder Syndrome (UAB). They hope their initiative will help improve the lives of millions of people worldwide who are affected by this disorder.
Urology Care Foundation – The AUA Foundation is the world’s leading nonprofit urological health foundation—and the official foundation of the American Urological Association. They partner with physicians, researchers, healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, families and the public to support and improve the prevention, detection and treatment of urological diseases. The website has patient resources, including a physician finder tool..
US Too International – Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network started in 1990 by prostate cancer survivors for prostate cancer patients, survivors, their spouses/partners and families.
World Federation of Incontinence and Pelvic Problems (WFIPP) – is a federation of national (patient) organisations, which aims at creating global visibility for incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction – awareness, advocacy and action.
Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) – a professional, international nursing society of more than 4200 nurse professionals who are experts in the care of patients with wound, ostomy, and continence problems.