Choosing the Right Incontinence Products for Your Needs

Many patients with urinary and fecal incontinence struggle to find the correct products to meet their needs. To select the proper incontinence products, you first need to determine the level of protection that you require. There are many products available, and each meets specific needs.

For patients with light urinary incontinence, disposable liners & pads will sufficiently meet the patient’s needs. Patients that have moderate urinary or fecal incontinence are open to a larger selection. One option for patients is reusable briefs and panties. This option allows the patient to feel more comfortable, as the reusable brief or panty looks and feels like a traditional brief or panty, but the reusable product protects against leakage. When combining a reusable brief or panty with a disposable insert, you can achieve added protection and absorbency while still maintaining the feel of a traditional brief or panty.

Patients with moderate, heavy or severe urinary or fecal incontinence have the additional option of disposable incontinence products. Disposable incontinence products are offered in underwear or briefs. The difference between these two products is in the design. Disposable underwear have a stretch waist band, and needs to be pulled up to the waist, while the disposable briefs are adult diapers similar in design to baby diapers, which are affixed by utilizing adhesive tabs at the waist.

In the selection of underwear or briefs, you need to consider the patient’s comfort, as well as his or her mobility. For a patient that is completely immobile, briefs would be a better choice, as the patient can be placed on top of the brief, and the brief can be secured while the patient is lying down. For patients with full or decreased mobility, disposable underwear is a viable option. If the patient can dress his or her self, the patient may feel more comfortable with the underwear, as opposed to the brief, as they can be pulled up to the waist like traditional briefs or panties. Different levels of absorbency are produced in both options, and the patient’s level of incontinence should be assessed when making your selection.

In addition to the incontinence products that are offered for use on the patient’s person, there are various products available for additional protection. For example, another consideration for patients with moderate to severe incontinence are underpads. Underpads are offered in both disposable and reusable forms. The underpads are manufactured with multiple layers. The top layers absorb and protect the patient’s skin, while the bottom layer prevents the bed, mattress or chair from getting soiled. These underpads come in different sizes, shapes and colors. In addition to pads, waterproof sheeting is also made to help protect the mattress from any moisture that may have otherwise seeped into the mattress cover.

Another great option is the bed wetting alarm. These alarms consist of a pad and a battery powered alarm. The pad is placed beneath the patient, and when the pad gets wet, it sounds the alarm to help caretakers know that the patient has wet him or herself, and to minimize the time the patient is in soiled garments.

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The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read online! If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.