NZ Government Content

Help with managing bladder or bowel control

Incontinence is loss of bladder and/or bowel control.

What help is available?

Continence advisors are available to help people with more serious problems that they are finding difficult to manage at home (often as a result of other medical conditions). They can help you or the person you support with ways to manage bladder and/or bowel control and advise which products are best for your needs.

A thorough assessment will determine the type and level of incontinence. Assessment services (and some continence products) are available nationwide. An assessment is required to see if a person qualifies for free continence products.

Who to contact?

You can ask your doctor to refer the person you support to a continence advisor, or you can refer yourself. For free information pamphlets and a referral to your local continence service, phone the NZ Continence Association helpline on 0800 650 659. You can also find the nationwide list of continence services at the Association's website www.continence.org.nz (click on Continence Service Providers).