Teresa Hagan illustrates from a recent study the importance of nurses updating their knowledge and skills if they are to continue to play a key role in improving the quality of care for elderly people

The preference expressed both by policy makers and elderly people themselves is for the elderly to remain in their own homes for as long as possible (1). Careful investigation of the need for care and support is of central importance to care in the community and will become more so as the percentage of the population who are elderly increases (2). In this context, the topic of incontinence deserves a higher priority in all professional carers' basic and further training courses.