The nurse's role in helping older people to use the toilet.

Going to the toilet to eliminate bodily waste in private is a normal daily activity that people tend to take for granted. The inability to perform this task independently can result in an intrusive, embarrassing and stressful experience for the individual. This article outlines the nurse's role in helping older people to use the toilet and the opportunities that this affords for therapeutic intervention, identification of other problems and the promotion of health and wellbeing.