Urinary incontinence affects persons of all ages, and to understand the type of incontinence your care recipient is experiencing will help you provide better care.

The five common types of urinary incontinence are:

Stress – The leakage of small amounts of urine due to sudden pressure on the bladder experience when laughing, coughing, exercising or lifting.

Urge – A sudden urge to urinate that is so strong, the bathroom cannot be reached in time.

Overflow – When the bladder fills beyond capacity and urine spills.

Reflex – An involuntary urination without any sensation of a full bladder.

Functional - Not being able to hold urine due to physical disability, or problems thinking or communicating. This can result from surgery, restricted mobility, environmental barriers, medications or mental disorders.