It's no secret that urinary incontinence contributes to falls in the elderly. Studies have shown that older adults who fall are twice as likely to have bladder control problems than those who don't. Moreover, the fear of falling again after an injury can worsen incontinence.A study at the University of Alberta in Canada looked at the association between urinary incontinence and falls in older women. medical alert systems Researchers looked at a sample of aging women who were residing at home or in assisted living with home support services. They also surveyed their quality of life and asked about their urinary symptoms.The sample was comprised of 6049 community dwelling, ambulatory, white females ages 70 or older. They were randomly selected from general practitioners' lists. All participants received supportive in-home care.Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on physical and cognitive function, medication use, and urinary incontinence. They then completed a physical examination. Some of the subjects had undergone anti-incontinence surgery. Medical alarm Researchers found that females were more likely to report urinary leakage than males. Urinary stress, urge incontinence, and mixed urinary incontinence were all associated with falls in the elderly. However, researchers note that more studies are needed to better understand the role of urinary incontinence in falls.Falls in the elderly are a major public health concern. In the UK alone, they cost the government PS900 million a year. That's 0.85-1.5 percent of total health care expenditure.Urinary incontinence is a common and often debilitating symptom. It can be difficult to treat, but 80% of patients with incontinence can be cured.