Incontinence Information for Caregivers
Though incontinence isn’t life-threatening, it can lead to physical complications, such as urinary tract infections and skin breakdown, as well as emotional barriers in which individuals withdraw from social contact, due to fear of leakage in public. Shown below are information and resources for finding the right absorbent product for your loved one. Skin care, odor control and other supplies also contribute to better comfort and quality of life.
Where to start?
The first step is to determine what type of product your loved one needs. Do they leak small amounts of urine? Often, this type of leakage occurs with coughing, laughing, or lifting heavy objects. It may also occur after certain surgeries. A product offering Light Protection can meet this need.
If the leakage of urine is more than just a leak or dribble, a more absorbent product may better suit the need. Sometimes people feel the urge to urinate but may not quite make it to the bathroom on time. Medium Protection should be sought.
For persons who void a full bladder at a time, a product for Heavy Protection or Complete will be needed. In addition, if your loved one is confined to bed, or incontinent of bowels, the heavy protection of a full brief or adult diaper is recommended.
What’s the difference between a brief, pull-up, etc.?
Brief – Briefs are used when there is heavy incontinence, bowel incontinence, or for persons confined to bed. Briefs offer the best protection and look just like baby diapers, only larger. They come in various sizes, based on the waist or hip size (whichever is greater).
Pull-ups – Sometimes referred as Protective Underwear; they are best used for people who need a medium absorbency product. These may be cumbersome to apply to a person confined to bed as they do resemble underwear. They are soft, and since they do resemble underwear, they are very popular especially for people who may have loss of urine on the way to the bathroom.
Undergarments – These offer a medium absorbency similar to a pull-up but they resemble a large pad. They may be "beltless" with an adhesive backing strip to secure to underwear. They may have a belt attached or a detachable belt which is elastic and can be reused. Whether the person wears clothing such as pants, socks and shoes may help determine which product is best. The detachable belt allows changing the product when soiled without changing the clothing.
Pads/Liners – Sometimes referred as Bladder Control Pads. Pads may have a rectangular shape or an hourglass type curved shape.
Underpads – They come in disposable or reusable, often referred to as "Chux". Underpads are primarily used in conjunction with a Brief or a Pull-up to offer extra protection to things such as beds, chairs, sofas and other areas you would want to protect the surface of. Reusable underpads are strong cloth pads that can also help as "lift" pads to assist with repositioning a bed bound person with limited mobility.