Learning to accept incontinence and continence care in residential aged care facilities: family members' experiences

The psychological process of living in a residential aged care (RAC) facility and being incontinent and dependent on another person for assistance with bladder and bowel function is largely unchartered. Likewise, little is known about the experiences and opinions of next-ofkin family members. As the function of many family members is as key advocate for residents, it is important to understand and share their perspectives about quality continence care. The aim was to explore next-of-kin family members’ understandings and expectations about the concept of ‘quality continence care’ for their relative living in an RAC facility. The indings suggest shared indicators of quality continence care centre on practices that family members believe will maintain a resident’s cleanliness and comfort, interpret the behaviours of cognitively impaired residents, optimise personal continence and autonomy, identify and address underlying medical conditions, and validate family member roles as advocates. The indings led to the development of a typology of family member beliefs and expectations about quality continence care, which could inform the development of future education programs for the aged care workforce, as well as the development and implementation of a best practice guideline for quality continence care in RAC facilities. By providing important insights into family members’ understandings and expectations about continence care, the research contributes to international eforts to improve the quality of continence care for frail older adults.