Prevalence of urinary and faecal incontinence in hospitals and residential and nursing homes for older people

Abstract

Studies of older people in long term care have shown that urinary and faecal incontinence are more prevalent in this group than among older people in the community.1 2 3 However, data describing the size of the problem in all types of long term care are lacking. We determined the prevalence of incontinence to assess the use of aids among older people in long term care. In November 1990 a census of all people aged 65 years and over in long term care was carried out in Leicestershire.4 Data were collected on health, dependency, and the use of continence aids. Residents experiencing at least one incontinent episode weekly were defined as being incontinent …