Our work Research A Best Practice Model of Continence Care for Residential Aged Care Introducing a dignified approach to continence care in residential aged care ‘Every interaction is an opportunity to uphold or diminish a person’s dignity’ — Dr Joan Ostaszkiewicz The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety heard compelling firsthand evidence that the quality of continence care in Australia’s residential aged care homes does not align with community expectations. Managing incontinence and promoting continence in this setting is a significant issue, and vital to the health and wellbeing of older people. Research has found that: 73% of aged care residents have urinary incontinence 54% of aged care residents have faecal incontinence 23-71% of aged care residents have constipation. In 2019, the Continence Foundation of Australia commissioned researchers from NARI to co-design, and pilot test, a best practice model to inform the delivery of continence care in Australian residential aged care homes. The Best Practice Model of Continence Care in Residential Aged Care articulates the characteristics of quality continence care for older people with continence care needs in residential aged care homes. These characteristics are articulated in the following principles. Continence care: Is person-centred through supported shared decision-making Is clinically informed through an assessment process Is informed by the best available evidence Protects a resident’s dignity Optimises a resident’s functional abilities Is timely and responsive Is inclusive and respectful of a resident’s culture, diversity, identity and life experiences Is safe Is provided by an appropriately trained and skilled workforce Is appropriately resourced. Download the Best Practice Model of Continence Care in Residential Aged Care Translated by the Continence Foundation of Australia into Continence SMART Care, the Model is: Person-centred Based on the best available evidence Consistent with the expectations of people with incontinence and their families Designed to support aged care providers to meet or exceed the Aged Care Quality Standards. In 2022, the team was awarded the Barry Cahill Travel Scholarship for their research about aged care residents’ expectations and preferences for continence care at the National Conference on Incontinence in Melbourne. The findings informed the design of the model. They also received a Best in Category Prize in Geriatrics/Gerontology for their abstract and presentation at ICS2021 about the model from the International Continence Society in 2021. NARI thank the Continence Foundation of Australia for funding this project, and members of the Project Advisory Group, and expert advisors, who kindly and generously shared their expertise and were vital to the development of this model. Chaired by Dr Susan Hunt (Aged Care Consultant, Leisten Hunt Pty Ltd), the Project Advisory Group included people with the lived experience, and representatives from the Continence Foundation of Australia, the Australian Government Department of Health, Alzheimer’s WA, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, Bolton Clarke, Carers Victoria, COTA Tasmania, and Edith Cowan University. You can find out more about the model on the Foundation’s website here: Continence SMART Care Contact at NARI: Dr Joan Ostaszkiewicz Or contact the Continence Foundation of Australia Manage Cookie Preferences