Older Unpaid Carers and their Experiences of Continence Care Version 1

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Does a continence management programme provided to somebody over the age of 65 years within acute care change the lived experiences of the older unpaid family carer, supporting them on discharge?

  • IRAS ID

    355311

  • Contact name

    Claire Anderson

  • Contact email

    Claire.Anderson@uwl.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of West London

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 4 months, days

  • Research summary

    There are currently 11.1 million people over the age of 65 years living in the United Kingdom. Of this, 32% are thought to be living with senior incontinence. As the population continues to age, we can expect more to be living with involuntary leaks of the bladder and or bowel, and as a result, more seeking support from an unpaid family carer to manage this.
    The following study will explore the experiences of people over the age of 65 years providing unpaid family care to a person also over the age of 65 years living with incontinence.
    20 participants will be invited to take part in two telephone interviews which will explore the impact of a continence management plan, inclusive of pad prescription where appropriate which is introduced to the person that the older unpaid carer supports during an inpatient admission to one of two medical wards where regular continence ward rounds take place. Interview one will take place during the inpatient admission of the person that the older unpaid family carer supports. Interview two will take place 12 weeks after their discharge. The aim of the study is to determine if the continence management plan provided changes the lived experiences of the participants.

  • REC name

    London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    25/LO/0861

  • Date of REC Opinion

    9 Dec 2025

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion