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Every generation has the global conflict that defined them, from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War to the World Wars to the Vietnam War and beyond. Even now, our youngest generation of service members are reaching their 40s, and with that milestone, tell-tale signs of aging including aching joints, grey hairs, and, yep, incontinence. While it might seem embarrassing to discuss, the truth is that incontinence of any kind is actually quite common — and easily managed for both men and women.
In fact it’s so common that you might not realize that it’s something you can address with your primary care provider and manage with products that you can have discreetly mailed directly to your home. Through a partnership with Attends, the VA, and a program called The Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy, or CMOP, eligible veterans can receive a wide range of supplies at home for their needs. You might also be eligible for disability compensation if your urinary incontinence is related to your military service.
There are four different types of urinary incontinence, so it isn’t the same for any two people. Attends is one of the leading brands that provides products to help manage veterans’ health, dignity, and comfort with disposable products for convenience and cleanliness, regardless of what kind of incontinence they experience:
- Stress Incontinence: This happens when activities like coughing, laughing, or exercising put pressure on your bladder, leading to leaks. It’s often linked to weaker pelvic muscles.
- Urge Incontinence: Also called overactive bladder, this type causes a sudden, strong urge to urinate, sometimes leading to leaks before you can get to the bathroom.
- Overflow Incontinence: This occurs when your bladder doesn’t empty fully, leading to frequent dribbling.
- Functional Incontinence: This type is more about mobility or cognitive challenges that prevent you from reaching the bathroom in time.
Here are the steps for receiving CMOP benefits:
- Determine if you are eligible for VA Health Benefits and enroll in the VA Health Care System.
- Diagnosis and Evaluation: Veterans seeking coverage for adult incontinence products undergo evaluation by a qualified VA health care provider to assess condition severity and prescribed products.
- Select CMOP as Delivery Option: When you receive your prescription, choose how you want to receive your products. If you prefer mail delivery, select CMOP as your delivery option and provide your current mailing address. Once your prescription is processed and filled by CMOP, your products will be mailed to you.
- Refill Prescriptions: You can request refills through the VA’s My HealtheVet website, by phone, or by mail. CMOP will process and mail refills based on your selected preferences.
There are simple lifestyle changes that can help relieve urinary incontinence, including avoiding drinking a lot before sleeping, limiting alcohol and caffeine intake, and pelvic strengthening exercises. In more severe leakage cases, certain medical services could be proscribed, including electrical stimulation, medications, or minimally invasive surgeries.
All of these options are natural topics to discuss with your health care provider. Many veterans underreport urinary leakage or incontinence — but the truth is that it is a common condition as we grow older or as a result of military physicality and there are stress-free solutions available to you.
Learn more about your benefits, visit Attends.