“Hidden frontline of indignity” – Letter on continence care sent to the House of Lords
A letter led by the Spinal Injuries Association – with support from parliamentarians and charities including Dementia Carers Count – has been sent to the House of Lords, for the attention of Baroness Casey of Blackstock, highlighting continence care as one of the most neglected and taboo areas of adult social care.
The letter says:
“For too many, continence care is the hidden frontline of indignity within the current system. Incontinence can have a severe and lasting impact on patient’s health, independence, and quality of life. It can lead to urinary tract infections, skin damage, increased hospital admissions, and profound emotional distress. And with over 160,000 people in care and nursing homes in the UK living with continence challenges – a number that is only set to rise alongside the ageing and disabled population – the system must respond better.”
You can read the letter here: https://www.spinal.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Putting-dignity-in-continence-at-the-heart-of-adult-social-care-Letter.pdf
The signatories want continence care to be part of Baroness Casey’s Commission into Adult Social Care, which we have reported on here: https://journalofdementiacare.co.uk/?s=Casey+Commission
Dementia Community ran a webinar on dementia and continence in Spring 2025 – you can watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/PNB-BBDlFEw?si=xVsKvuxS_gnE4XEg. We plan to revisit this topic, so do keep an eye on our webinars page: https://journalofdementiacare.co.uk/events2/webinars-2