Ostomy and stoma are two commonly used terms to describe a surgical opening in the abdomen that has been created to collect faeces (colostomy or ileostomy), or urine (urostomy). They may be temporary or permanent. In aged care facilities, it is the responsibility of those providing nursing care to ensure that residents receive best practice ostomy care in order to prevent complications and optimise health and quality of life.
The following module highlights essential aspects of stoma care. It outlines five recommendations to care for stomas in an aged care setting. It is aimed at anyone providing nursing care to an older person with a stoma.
Please note that residential aged care facilities will often have facility specific guidelines regarding stoma management. All those involved in care should refer to their local policies.
At the end of this module participants will be able to:
