Drawing on research from the social and biological sciences, this round table presentation will hear from a multidisciplinary panel of speakers who share a commitment to advancing ethical care for frail older adults with continence care needs. Dr Anita Frances will present findings from her work in the Australian Government Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission in relation to bladder and bowel care in residential aged care homes and present findings from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety about neglect in continence care. Drawing on findings from an ethnographic research study that examined the every practices of peace in residential elderly care, Dr Tiina Vaittinen will explicate the context that results in ethical challenges for care workers. Building on this theme, Dr Ostaszkiewicz will present a new paradigm for the management of incontinence in residential aged care homes that values fundamental care and privileges residents’ dignity as the main goal of care. She calls for caregivers to identify as protectors of residents’ dignity and to reframe dirty work as dignity work. Thereafter, Associate Professor Anne Suskind will share the outcomes of a recent ICS project that resulted in a white paper about ethical considerations in caring for older adults with urinary incontinence.

This session will be followed by an ICS Live Lounge. This is a real-time interactive, face-to-face experience with the faculty members.

Enter the Live Lounge