When a participant needs help with bladder or bowel management, the path to the right support usually starts with one thing: a continence assessment. For Support Coordinators, Local Area Coordinators and hospital discharge planners, knowing when to arrange one, and who to send it to, can be the difference between a participant getting timely, dignified care and waiting weeks while a problem quietly gets worse.
Solve Care is a female-owned, NDIS-registered provider, led by a Clinical Nurse Consultant, supporting people across Wollongong, the Illawarra and the South Coast, including Nowra and the Shoalhaven. We are also a member of the Continence Foundation of Australia. This guide explains what a continence assessment is, when a participant needs one, how it tends to be funded, and how to refer, in plain English you can pass straight to a participant or family.
What is a continence assessment?
A continence assessment is a structured, nurse-led review of a person’s bladder and bowel function. A qualified continence nurse looks at what is actually happening, what might be causing it, and what would genuinely help, then sets out a practical plan. It is a clinical assessment, but it is also a very human conversation, handled with privacy and respect.
The assessment usually covers things like fluid and dietary habits, mobility and toileting routines, current products or aids in use, skin integrity, relevant medical history and medications, and the goals of the participant and the people supporting them. The outcome is a written assessment and a continence management plan: clear recommendations the participant, their family and their support team can follow.
Why a continence assessment matters for an NDIS plan
Beyond the clinical benefit, a continence assessment is often the document that unlocks the right supports. The NDIS generally expects continence needs to be backed by an assessment from a suitably qualified professional before it funds continence-related supports, such as continence products or other management strategies. A clear, well-evidenced assessment gives the participant the best chance of getting appropriate funding at their planning meeting or reassessment, and gives you the evidence base you need when you advocate for them.
It also reduces risk. Unmanaged continence issues can lead to skin breakdown, infections, falls during night-time toileting, social withdrawal and avoidable hospital admissions. A timely assessment catches these early, which is exactly the kind of outcome that reflects well on the coordinator who arranged it.
Signs a participant may need a continence assessment
It is worth considering a referral if a participant:
- Is experiencing new or worsening bladder or bowel difficulties.
- Needs continence products funded or reviewed in their NDIS plan.
- Has a condition commonly associated with continence needs, such as a neurological condition, spinal injury, intellectual disability or age-related change.
- Is relying on products that no longer suit their needs, or is going without because nothing has been formally assessed.
- Has experienced skin issues, recurring infections or falls linked to toileting.
- Is preparing for a plan reassessment and needs current evidence of their continence support needs.
If you are a participant or family member reading this, none of this is anything to feel awkward about. Continence is common, it is manageable, and the whole point of an assessment is to make daily life easier and more comfortable.
What happens during a Solve Care continence assessment
We carry these out in the participant’s own home wherever possible, so no one has to take a day off or sit in a clinic waiting room for something this personal. A typical assessment looks like this:
- A registered continence nurse meets the participant where they are most comfortable, usually at home, at a time that suits them.
- We talk through history, routines, current supports and goals, and carry out the relevant clinical assessment with privacy and dignity throughout.
- We develop a clear continence management plan with practical recommendations, including product types and quantities where appropriate.
- We provide a written report suitable for the participant’s plan and for you to use as evidence at planning meetings or reassessments.
- Where it helps, we coordinate with the participant’s GP, other treating professionals and their support team so the plan actually gets followed.
How is a continence assessment funded under the NDIS?
In most cases the assessment and the supports that flow from it are funded through the participant’s NDIS plan rather than out of their own pocket. A nurse-led continence assessment generally sits within the Capacity Building part of a plan (commonly under Improved Daily Living), while continence products and consumables are usually funded through Core supports. The exact category, funding and eligibility depend on the individual plan, and NDIS rules and price limits can change at a reassessment, so it is always worth checking the current arrangements against the participant’s plan rather than assuming. We are happy to help you confirm what a particular plan allows before anything goes ahead.
Why refer to Solve Care
Continence care is a clinical service, and you want it in genuinely capable hands. Here is what makes us a safe choice for your participants:
- Nurse-led and medically informed. Solve Care is led by a Clinical Nurse Consultant and our managers are medically trained, so continence work is core to who we are, not a side service.
- Assessed in the home. We come to the participant, which is more comfortable, more accurate, and removes a real barrier for people who find clinic appointments difficult.
- Deeply local. We know the Illawarra and South Coast, including Nowra and the Shoalhaven, and we can coordinate alongside our own community nursing and daily-living supports where that helps.
- A recognised commitment to the field. We are a member of the Continence Foundation of Australia.
- Communication you can rely on. You receive clear, regular updates and a report you can actually use, so you are never left chasing.
You can read more on our Continence Care Assessments service page, or explore our wider disability support services, including community nursing and support coordination.
How to refer a participant for a continence assessment
Referring is simple, and we have kept it deliberately low-effort:
- Send us the participant’s details and plan goals, a quick email or call is enough to start.
- We arrange a free, no-pressure conversation to confirm we are the right fit and to check the timing that suits the participant.
- We complete the assessment in the home, develop the management plan, and return a clear written report.
- You receive regular updates throughout, so you always know where things are up to.
You can start a referral any time through our referral page, or email the participant intake form to hello@solvecare.com.au.
Frequently asked questions
Who can carry out a continence assessment?
A continence assessment should be carried out by a suitably qualified professional, such as a registered nurse with continence training or a continence nurse advisor. Solve Care’s assessments are nurse-led and medically informed.
Does the participant have to pay for the assessment?
In most cases the assessment is funded through the participant’s NDIS plan rather than personally. The first step is checking what their plan includes, which we are happy to help you do.
Can the assessment be done at home?
Yes, and we prefer it. Home assessments are more comfortable, often more accurate, and remove the need for the participant to travel for something personal.
How does a continence assessment help with NDIS funding?
The NDIS generally expects continence needs to be supported by a professional assessment before funding related supports such as continence products. A clear report gives the participant the evidence they need at a planning meeting or reassessment.
Do you cover areas outside Wollongong?
Yes. We support people across the Illawarra and the South Coast, including Nowra and the Shoalhaven. The best way to check we cover a particular area is to get in touch.
Refer with confidence, to a local nursing team
When you refer a participant for a continence assessment, you are trusting someone with a sensitive part of their life. We do not take that lightly. If you would like to discuss a participant or arrange an assessment, we are here to help, with no pressure and clear communication from the first call. Reach out through our contact page, email hello@solvecare.com.au, or call us on (02) 8358 7682, and a real person from our local team will talk it through with you.
Solve Care — NDIS Registered Provider. Member of the Continence Foundation of Australia. Wollongong · Illawarra · South Coast.