Continence, dementia & preserving dignity

Many people living with dementia have continence problems and need high quality, personalised continence care to have a good quality of life. Yet recent research has found deficits in professionals’ assessment and management of continence across the health and care system, and a recent news item brough to life why research on this topic and changes to practice are essential.

NIHR Evidence has undertaken a themed review, featuring NIHR-funded research, identifies the impact of continence problems on people living with dementia and their carers, as well as ways to improve continence care at home, in care homes and in hospitals.

Adam Smith, who sat on the advisory group for the review commented “Preserving the dignity of people living with dementia, has to be a core part of all care, whether that is provided at home, in a care home or in a hospital setting. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, it is common for incontinence to occur, and this comprehensive review of the latest research should help everyone involved in providing care and support to improve – importantly it also highlights that there is still a way to go, and gaps that I hope early career researchers will consider exploring in their own work”.

If you work clinically, there are a number of new Alzheimer’s Society funding calls which could be used to undertake continence research, even if you are not currently working academically including the Pre-Doctoral Clinical Bursery,  view all current funding calls including those from the NIHR.