# Continence care quality from the perspective of older adults in long-term care or in receipt of home care: a scoping review

## TL;DR

This scoping review explores how older adults in long-term care or home care view the quality of continence care, highlighting gaps and needs.

## Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive overview of older adults' perspectives on continence care quality, emphasizing person-centered approaches and care provider education.

## Key findings

- Older adults reported limited access and information regarding continence care services.
- Care staff had variable abilities to deliver continence care, and older adults desired active involvement in care decisions.
- Older adults emphasized the importance of preserving autonomy, independence, and well-being in continence care.

## Abstract

To assess the state of the research literature addressing what is known about the quality of continence care from the perspective of older adults in long-term care or in receipt of home care.

Scoping review of the literature according to the Joanna Briggs Institute method, reported according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines. Participant: older adults (>65 years of age), either in receipt of home health or social care services or older adult residents of long-term care (nursing homes). Concept: older adult perspectives on quality of continence care (access, care to meet needs, continuity, goals, expectations, delivery, experiences, personalised care, partnerships in care, well-being and social support). Context: older adults in long-term care or in receipt of home care.

We identified 14 articles from the academic literature. Sources originated from the USA (7), Australia (4), Canada (2) and 1 from Italy. Long-term care residents were the focus of 12 of the articles. Older adults reported limited access and information regarding continence care and services and variable abilities of care staff to deliver care. Older adults wanted to be actively involved in decisions about their care, preserve their autonomy and independence and wanted care to enhance their well-being.

Studies examining the perspectives of older adults regarding the quality of their continence care are few. Older adults value person-centredness, expert advice regarding their condition, allowing preservation of self-determination and independence where possible. Older people value meaningful relationships with empathetic care providers. There remains a need for education of care providers in continence care and for policies and practices to support continence in a dignity-preserving framework.

Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/bprq9/).