Urinary incontinence and the community-dwelling elder: a practical approach to diagnosis and management for the primary care geriatrician.

Although there have been dramatic improvements in the management of incontinence since the 1940s, this area remains a major challenge to the geriatrician. Patients need to be asked regularly if they are incontinent and, after the diagnosis is made, should be given a rational treatment plan. Urodynamics should not be performed until mainstream treatments have failed.