There are tens of thousands of people today living with an incontinence problem of some sort. Not all conditions are the same; in fact, almost none are the same. There are different types of incontinence, with names like urinary incontinence, bowel incontinence, bladder incontinence or stress incontinence. There are also different levels of incontinence, as incontinence affects every person differently. Because everyone who has incontinence is affected in a very individual way, people usually need someone knowledgeable to guide them through challenging questions like what they can do to stay dry throughout the day or night, how to find the right incontinence supplies to match their individual needs and more.
At AvaCare Medical, we’re here to be your personal guide as you navigate your way through the search for the best incontinence products for your condition or that of your loved one.
What Are Incontinence Supplies?
Let’s start with the basic definition of incontinence supplies:
Incontinence supplies are products designed to help manage urinary or bowel output, and are most commonly used to protect clothing, bedding and furniture. Absorbent incontinence products such as adult diapers, protective underwear, disposable and reusable underpads and incontinence liners are designed specifically for bowel and urinary incontinence and usually absorb quickly and efficiently, leaving the skin dry and comfortable. Other products used for incontinence management include adult wipes and washcloths, odor eliminators and female or male urinals and bed pans.
Whether you, your loved one or your patient is living with an incontinent issue, incontinence supplies can greatly improve your quality of life. Although each individual situation is different from the next one, there are products available to provide protection for a light bladder leak all the way to the most severe problems. The first step should always be to speak with a highly trained professional who understands bladder control issues who can help in finding the correct adult incontinence products.
Which Incontinence Products Do I Need?
To begin with, let’s take a peek into several of the basic incontinence management options. To learn more about incontinence products, we recommend that you read this comprehensive guide to incontinence products and supplies.
When an individual is experiencing heavy incontinence, an adult diaper may be the best option. Obviously they come in many different absorbency levels and sizes, however the right one can really do the job. There are many different manufacturers that make diapers for adults, such as Molicare, Depends, Attends and FitRight. Choosing the best adult diaper doesn’t necessarily mean you will get that with the most expensive brand; lots of times it can depend on the shape, texture or sizing of the disposable diaper that can make a difference. It’s important to keep in mind that wearing adult briefs can also be very uncomfortable if you don’t have the right size and make.
Adult diapers are recommended for patients who are not mobile, as the caregiver can easily slide the diaper underneath the patient and close it with the tabs; in essence, they are pampers for adults. However, if the patient is active, adult pull ups or disposable incontinence underwear may be more appropriate, since adult underwear can be pulled up like regular underwear.
Bed pads are designed to protect the bed, chair or furniture. Also known as chux pads, waterproof pads or incontinence pads, they are often used in addition to a diaper to provide more reliable protection. Waterproof bed pads can be washable and reusable, but many prefer disposable bed pads since they can be thrown out after use. Hospital bed pads are usually disposable in order to make clean-up easier for the staff.
To learn more about incontinence and other incontinence products, check out our other blog posts about incontinence.