A person-centred approach to urinary incontinence assessment and care.

Urinary incontinence is prevalent in older people, especially those in residential and nursing home care. If ineffectively managed, it can have negative impacts on quality of life, including moisture-associated skin damage. A Delphi steering group was convened to test a consensus on continence assessment and care. This covered dignity, autonomy and quality of life of patients with incontinence; incontinence as a contributory risk factor for falls; improved skin health; improved education and self-management; reduced pressure on staff and carers; mental health, early-stage dementia and end-of-life support; role of guidelines and individual needs-based continence pad selection. This resulted in recommendations on basic assessment, taking a person-centred approach and improving the provision of continence aids.