Foundation promotes continence resources for aged care workers

Resources targeting aged care workers and family carers of older people are among those being promoted by the Continence Foundation of Australia as it marks World Continence Week 20-26 June.

The foundation is also launching initiatives aimed at making its resources more accessible to people with disabilities, such as website modifications to assist people using adaptive technologies.

The resources aimed at aged care and health workers include videos presented by clinical experts on subjects such as incontinence in aged care, Parkinson’s and continence, incontinence and dementia in aged care, catheter care for health professionals and neurogenic bladder dysfunction – all of which are available here on the Australian Continence Exchange website.

Information about online and face-to-face educational courses for aged and health care workers and clinicians was also available.

Personal carers of people with incontinence could access a range of carers’ resources on the carers section of the foundation website, available here. These include a carer guidebook, and a range of videos and fact sheets.

The foundation said that one in four Australians aged 15 and older was incontinent. Certain illnesses make people more susceptible, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, diabetes, spina bifida and arthritis.

Rowan Cockerell, the foundation’s CEO, said this year’s project recognised the significant barriers older people, people with disabilities and their carers faced every day when accessing health information.

“This is something we are doing to ensure all people, regardless of their personal limitations, have access to our information and resources,” Ms Cockerell said.

She said the foundation’s support for health professionals was critical for ensuring the best outcomes for their clients. “There is a lot of help out there. The foundation also manages the free, confidential helpline, which is staffed by continence nurses. They can provide callers with advice, information about their nearest continence service, can recommend resources and can advise about government subsidies,” she said.

The National Continence Helpline (1800 33 00 66) is open 8am to 8pm weekdays AEST.

World Continence Week runs 20-26 June.