Society for Continence (Singapore) has been constantly engaging itself in community-based programmes since its formation. After running projects in educating the incontinence sufferers, caregivers, nurses and doctors, now we have embarked on an in-service training programme on incontinence for nurses in nursing homes.

The well known fact of the rapidly aging population in Singapore coupled with increase in life expectancy has led to the growing number of residents at nursing homes.

Most residents, patients in nursing homes are 75 and above are partially or fully immobile, out of which 70% suffer from urinary incontinence and a substantial number of feacal incontinence. Nurses are repeatedly challenged with the diffi cult task of managing patients with urinary incontinence problems and are quite innovative in coming up with their own solutions to manage the patients and take pride in it.

Our Society’s volunteer nurse Chia Hwee Huang conducted in-service training programmes in 12 nursing homes for this year. We indeed glad to know that many nursing homes are keen to learn about the latest techniques and methods available to manage incontinence so that the residents can benefi t and feel more comfortable and confident.

Sixty percent of nurses who attended this programme said that the course has broadened their knowledge and skill that they need to apply in their job. Fifty two percent of attendees said that they would recommend this course to their colleagues and friends and fifty two percent percent of them said that the course objectives met their expectations.