Bladder Leaks Are Treatable; EliHealth Initiative Is Helping Underserved Women Get Care

New grant funding supports pelvic health education, treatment assistance and awareness of Medicare and Medicaid coverage for women facing financial barriers.

NEWTOWN, Conn., Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- For millions of women, aging means planning around bathrooms, carrying pads and avoiding activities for fear of bladder leaks. Many assume it is simply part of getting older.

EliHealth Initiative, a women's health nonprofit focused on underserved women, is working to make pelvic health education and treatment more accessible. A grant from the David N. Lane Trust for Aged & Indigent Women, administered by Bank of America, will support education and treatment access for financially disadvantaged older women.

"Women may avoid seeking care because they assume bladder leakage is normal or worry about the cost," said Daly Johnson, Director of EliHealth Initiative. "We want women to know urinary incontinence is usually treatable, and options may be more accessible than they realize."

Bladder leakage can limit work, exercise, travel and social activities, while the ongoing cost of pads strains limited budgets. Yet managing leaks is not the same as treating them.

Options include pelvic floor therapy and treatments used at home. Elitone, for example, is an FDA-cleared, non-invasive wearable device that externally strengthens pelvic floor muscles to reduce leakage.

For qualifying patients, pelvic floor stimulation may be covered by Medicare or Connecticut Medicaid. With grant support, EliHealth Initiative plans to partner with community health organizations to educate women about treatment options, help them understand potential insurance coverage and provide direct treatment assistance to those who cannot afford care.

Women often put their own health needs last, especially when budgets are stretched. For a woman living on a limited income, bladder leakage can mean avoiding time with family, giving up activities or spending money on pads instead of other necessities. Too often, the cost of treatment becomes another reason to go without care. No woman should have to sacrifice her independence because she cannot afford treatment.

EliHealth Initiative is seeking donations, foundation grants and corporate partnerships to help underserved women access pelvic health care. The nonprofit also welcomes donor-advised fund (DAF) contributions. Help change a woman's life at https://elihealth.org/.

About EliHealth Initiative

EliHealth Initiative is a Connecticut-based 501(c)(3) women's health nonprofit helping underserved women access pelvic health education and treatment through charitable support and community partnerships.

SOURCE EliHealth Initiative

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