The severity of an incontinence problem varies with the people affected. It may be a leak triggered by sudden movements such as laughter, coughing, or sneezing for some. For others, incontinence may mean a complete loss of bladder or bowel control, making it a full-time problem for patients and caregivers.
In the same way, incontinence products are not one size fits all, and neither is choosing one for the patient. When one develops incontinence, the rush to contain it leads to picking a random (and most times wrong) product. Pharmacy assistants are not experts either, and so they sell what you buy.
In this article, you’ll find six things to check off the list when buying an incontinence product and which one to get – absorbent underwear , pull-up, booster pad, or belted garments.
- Check Incontinence Level
An important checkpoint is the level of incontinence of the user. There are various levels of incontinence depending on the severity of the case and the cause of incontinence.
How much is lost in the event of incontinence? Ranging from light dribbles to complete bladder loss sets the precedence for the type of incontinence product to buy.
➢ Light incontinence: usually leakage of minimal amounts, either daily or over more extended periods. An episode is usually less than 4oz. Light incontinence is caused by sudden action on the bladder from coughing, sneezing, laughing, or holding an already full bladder.
➢ Moderate incontinence: refers to heavier bladder loss than light incontinence but lesser than heavy incontinence. An episode is between 4 – 10oz.
➢ Heavy incontinence is heavy or complete bladder loss during the day. An episode is between 10 – 16oz, about the amount of urine held by the bladder. A variant is an overnight incontinence, which is heavy incontinence, but at night.
- Check Gender
Male and female incontinence products differ. While there are generic products to go with, these are made specifically to meet the needs of each sex.
Male products come with urine guards and pouches made to fit on the penis. Female products include incontinence pads, panties, and liners.
However, most incontinence products are generic, so this specification is to the user’s preference.
- Absorbency
Absorbency of an incontinence product refers to the amount of liquid waste it can handle in the event – ranging from light to heavy. The absorbency depends on the incontinence level of the user. Patients affected with light incontinence naturally won’t have use for the heavily (and more expensive) absorbent products, but the heavily incontinent ones will.
An extra feature of absorbent products is moisture-wicking technology, which works to preserve comfort by pulling the moisture from the user’s body. This feature keeps the wearer dry and comfortable. An incontinence product’s absorbency and moisture-wicking qualities are worth noting if you’re on the market for one.
- Reusable or Disposable
Reusable products are not thrown away after the first wear or stain but are repeatedly used, while disposable products see the bin immediately on the other hand. Reusable products are more eco-friendly, and most are re-used 200 or 300 times before disposal. Disposable products fill up the bins and landfills.
On the flip side, reusable products are more expensive, but their worth plays out long term. Its absorbency features cover all levels of incontinence – light, medium, heavy – and come in all gender types – male, female and generic.
With disposable products, you have more options. Also, there is no need to launder them as you can dispose of them immediately after use.
- Assess Discreteness
Along with comfort, most users of incontinence products would rather the undergarment not be prominent. Retaining their dignity is essential even if they can’t contain their bladder content. There are several things to consider if discreteness is necessary.
A cloth-like covering is preferable to the plastic types to prevent the rustling sound made. The user can also put on loose clothing to avoid any appearance of the incontinence product jutting out or making an unwelcome appearance through tight dress. Some manufacturers make their products with a compact core to prevent the bulkiness from weighing down the user. It’s also advisable to purchase pull-up underwear to maintain a snug fit.
- How Much Does it Cost?
Last but not least, the budget is essential. The other items on this checklist will determine the cost of the incontinence product you want to purchase, but you can set a budget and work around it.
Reusable products are more expensive, along with absorbent products for heavy incontinence. Generally, the consequences for the heavily incontinent will cost more. The more comfortable items with unique features and gender-specific rather than generic items will also cost more.
So combine the user’s preference with the budget to get the perfect product for them.
