Key words

Absorbent material – A material that is able to soak up and contain liquid easily.Constipation – Not emptying the bowel regularly or straining to pass hard, dry faeces is called constipation.

Contain urine and/or stool – Prevent urine or stool from leaking onto clothing or further (for example onto a bed or chair) when a person has incontinence.

Continence – The ability to voluntarily control emptying of the bladder and bowel in a socially acceptable place. Can be described as successfully going to the toilet.

Continence management – A planned process for how a person who has incontinence goes to the toilet which is safe, effective and dignified.

Diarrhoea – Frequently passing liquid stool.

Incontinence – When a person has difficulty or is unable to voluntarily control emptying of their bladder (urinary incontinence) or bowel (bowel incontinence).

Menopause – The time in a woman’s life (typically between the ages of 45 and 50) when the bleeding that occurs as part of a woman’s monthly cycle stops happening.

Nerves – Nerves are part of the system responsible for sending and receiving information between different parts of the body.

Pressure wound – A pressure wound is a breakdown of the skin. It is usually over a bony area and is a common problem for people who have problems with feeling (sensation) or difficulty moving and changing position.

Prostate – The prostate sits just below the bladder in males. It circles around the urethra and grows in size as a male gets older, which can cause incontinence.

Rash – A reaction to something that irritates the skin and shows as dark (on dark coloured skin) or red (on light coloured skin) patches or bumps.

Self care – Self care means looking after oneself. Self care activities include those a person carries out every day to look after their basic personal needs such as washing, going to the toilet, getting dressed, eating and drinking.

Single use – Made to be thrown away after a single use.

Stool – A term to describe the digested waste that is collected in the bowel. Common terms include poo, poop, caca.

Urethra – The urethra is part of our urinary system. Urine passes through the urethra from a person’s bladder to outside of their body.

Urine – A term to describe the liquid that is collected in the bladder. Common terms include pee, wee, piss.

Urinary system – A term to describe the different parts of the body that work together to filter and remove wastes and extra water from our blood in the form of urine.