This study sought to compare characteristics of both continent and incontinent residents in Nursing Homes (NHs) and to investigate what predicts continence and severity of incontinence. The study found that 25.4% of the NH residents were continent, 31.8% had urinary incontinence alone, 2.6% had fecal incontinence alone and 40.2% had double incontinence. Continent residents were characterized by being in short-term care, shorter stay in NH, less cognitive and physical impairment, less Parkinson’s disease, stroke, constipation, and less diarrhea and more independence in activities of daily living (ADL). Residents with fecal incontinence alone were characterized by more diarrhea, less cognitive impairment and less dependency in ADL such as feeding and grooming. Residents with urinary incontinence alone were characterized by having some degree of ADL dependency, less diarrhea, and less diabetes. Residents with double incontinence were characterized by being in long-term care, a longer length of stay in NH, cognitive impairment, stroke, constipation, diarrhea, and dependency in ADL. Severity of incontinence was related to dependency in ADL and cognitive impairment, diarrhea, length of stay in NH and lower age.
Approximately 25% of NH residents were continent. Double incontinence and urinary incontinence only were common conditions in NHs, while FI alone was rarer. With the exception of diarrhea as a cause of FI, it seems that FI alone, UI alone, and DI may have common causes and development.