Older people are not always being treated with dignity when it comes to continence care, says research released this week.

Two studies, carried out by the University of Kent and the Royal College of Physicians’ Clinical Effectiveness and Evaluation Unit, found a huge variation in the quality of care given to patients with continence problems.

Key concerns raised by the findings related to dignity, privacy, and cleanliness.

In the first study researchers interviewed 33 people between the ages of 68 and 89 over a four month period about continence issues and how these affected their dignity. In the second study 10 patients were observed.

Both studies were conducted …