In a randomly selected sample of 559 subjects 65 years and over living in the community and in institutions the prevalence of urinary incontinence was found to be 11.6%. In those 80 years and over the prevalence rose to 21.7%. Those with dementia were more likely to be incontinent than those with normal mental function. In the majority of those over 80 who were incontinent, the incontinence was associated with either confusion or a combination of factors. The estimated population prevalence of faecal incontinence for those 65 years and over was 3.1%. Urinary incontinence was associated with an increased risk of death. In a review of subjects after three years 73.5% of the incontinent group had died while only 34.9% of those originally continent had died. Because incontinent elderly people are commonly frail, with a number of conditions contributing to the disorder, the extent of investigation of the disorder needs to be carefully assessed for each patient.