Preparing for a Continence Assessment: What to Expect and How to Get Ready
If your NDIS plan is going to include continence funding, a continence assessment is usually the starting point, and turning up prepared makes the whole process faster and more accurate. Here's exactly what to expect and how to get the most out of it.
Why This Assessment Matters
A continence assessment, usually conducted by a Nurse Continence Specialist or other suitably qualified health professional, becomes the clinical evidence your NDIS planner uses to justify ongoing continence funding in your plan. It's not a test you can fail, it's a structured conversation aimed at understanding exactly what you need so the right products and support actually get funded.
What the Assessment Typically Covers
While the exact format varies between assessors, a thorough continence assessment generally includes your medical history relevant to your continence needs, your bladder and bowel patterns (often tracked using a short diary over a few days beforehand), your mobility and dexterity for managing toileting independently, your home environment and bathroom access, and fluid and diet factors that can affect bladder and bowel function.
A genuinely thorough assessment should also look at your current medications, since several common medication types, including diuretics and some anticholinergics, can directly affect bladder function. If your assessor doesn't ask about medications, it's worth raising it yourself, or having a conversation with us or your GP separately.
A Practical Checklist Before Your Assessment
Having a few things ready in advance makes the assessment more accurate and often faster:
A few days of a simple voiding diary, noting roughly when leakage happens, how much, and any pattern you've noticed (time of day, specific activities, certain foods or drinks).
A list of your current products, including what you're currently using, how often you change, and whether you're experiencing leaks through to clothing or bedding.
A current medication list, since this genuinely matters for getting the full clinical picture right.
Notes on your home environment, particularly bathroom distance, any mobility aids you use, and whether you need assistance from a carer.
Any relevant medical history, such as recent surgery, ongoing conditions, or previous incontinence treatment you've tried.
What Happens After the Assessment
The assessor typically prepares a written report summarising their findings and recommendations, which becomes part of the evidence your NDIS planner uses when including continence funding in your plan. This report often includes specific product type and absorbency recommendations, which we can then match to actual products from our range once your funding is confirmed.
If you're a support coordinator or plan manager helping a participant through this process, having the assessment report in hand before requesting a quote significantly speeds up getting the right products ordered, since it gives us clear clinical direction rather than needing to work from limited information.
Need to find a Nurse Continence Specialist? The National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66 (Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm AEST) can help locate continence services in your area and answer general questions about the assessment process.
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Try the Pharmacist Incontinence Recommender →Frequently Asked Questions
Is a continence assessment required for every NDIS participant who needs continence products?
The NDIA generally wants evidence of an assessment to justify ongoing Core Supports funding in your plan, though specific requirements can vary by circumstance. It's worth confirming directly with your planner or support coordinator what's needed for your particular situation.
How long does a continence assessment usually take?
This varies by assessor and individual complexity, but a thorough assessment covering medical history, bladder and bowel patterns, mobility, and home environment typically takes a reasonable amount of time, often around an hour or more. Coming prepared with the items above can help it run more efficiently.
Do I need to do anything embarrassing or uncomfortable during the assessment?
A continence assessment is primarily a conversation and history-taking process, not a physical examination in most cases. Nurse Continence Specialists are experienced in discussing these topics professionally and matter-of-factly.
What if my needs change after the assessment?
Continence needs genuinely can change over time, and a follow-up assessment or update to your plan is a reasonable thing to request if your situation changes meaningfully. Don't assume the original assessment locks you into specific products indefinitely.
Can Connect Mobility help interpret the assessment report into specific products?
Yes, this is exactly the kind of thing our pharmacist team does regularly. Once you have your assessment report, we can talk through what it means in terms of specific products from our range.
References
- Continence Health Australia, National Continence Helpline — continence.org.au
This article is for general information only and does not replace individual clinical or funding advice. Speak with your NDIS planner or support coordinator about your specific circumstances.
Nadim Assaf is a registered pharmacist (AHPRA PHA0001624849) and co-founder of Connect Mobility, an NDIS-registered assistive technology provider in Picton, NSW. Connect Mobility is run entirely by registered pharmacists.