Helen D’Amato, Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly and Community Care, launched a week of activities on incontinence, saying it was a subject that was embarrassing to talk about, and especially so for those suffering from it.

The condition does not differentiate between the sexes, age or social class. One in every six persons suffers from it, women more than men. It becomes more common with age, with at least 40 per cent of those aged over 75 suffering from it.

Society had a negative attitude towards the condition, Ms D’Amato said, and the government had taken various measures to help elderly people with it, such as providing bathrooms en suite at St Vincent de Paul home for the elderly.

A continence advisor has also been appointed, whose duties include helping, through education, people who take care of the elderly, and the public. Last June the Continence Care Interdisciplinary Team was also set up at St Vincent de Paul. Its first activity is the week of activities related to the condition, and this week the team also set up the Malta Continence Care Association.

The week of activities starts on Saturday.