The residential homes for the elderly run by the British Social Services contain approximately 25,000 frequently incontinent residents, the disorder having a prevalence of 17 per cent. Frequent incontinence has been consistently demonstrated to be the behaviour disability which best discriminates between suitable and unsuitable residents, in the staff's opinion. The Social Services' response to the problem is hampered by the inappropriate design of their accommodation, the lack of incontinence aids, the low levels and lack of training for staff, the poor primary health-care cover, the low priority given by hospital services, and by their own philosophy and policy for the elderly.