The Ultimate Guide to Incontinence Supplies
Finding manageable and effective solutions for incontinence can be challenging. You want something that makes it possible for you to carry on with your day-to-day routine without the worry and discomfort associated with incontinence.
We get it. We also know that having the right products and supplies to maintain your incontinence will make a world of difference for you.
So what kind of products and supplies are available? What items are really worth investing in? Is it better to go disposable or reusable? Which direction should I take? Take a look at our ultimate guide to incontinence supplies to get all the answers to your questions!
What is incontinence?
Simply put, incontinence is the involuntary and uncontrollable loss of urine or feces. Urinary incontinence is the most common type to experience, however, if you have fecal incontinence, it’s likely that you also experience urinary incontinence.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, incontinence is likely to happen “when you jump, cough, laugh, (or when) you may have stress…any physical exertion that increases abdominal pressure also puts pressure on the bladder.” It’s possible that you’ve experienced this and started avoiding certain activities, such as exercise or hiking, or even playing with your children or grandchildren.
Over 13 million people in the United States are facing incontinence, many of them women. If this is something that you or someone you love is shouldering, know that you are not alone!
What incontinence supplies are there?
Luckily, there are plenty of incontinence products on the market that have been made specifically to simplify your life and help you stay as comfortable as possible. No more avoiding those activities that bring on your incontinence! It’s easy to reclaim your lifestyle when you’ve equipped yourself with the right tools. Among them are:
- Incontinence Underwear
- Underwear Liners
- Swim Shorts
- Bedding Pads
- Bedding Covers
- Chair Pads
Incontinence Underwear
First and foremost, you want to get some incontinence underwear. The thing that sets incontinence underwear apart from other styles of underwear is that they have extra layers of protection to help absorb and protect. Additionally, while incontinence underwear has extra layers, they’re designed in a way to avoid unnecessary bulk, so you can stay discreet while going about your day.
Underwear Liners
Another option you could consider is underwear liners. These can be placed in regular underwear or incontinence underwear, and they just add another layer of protection. This is a great item to keep on hand in case of emergencies while you’re away from home and your other incontinence supplies.
Swim Shorts
Incontinence shouldn’t keep you from doing the things that you love, and that includes swimming. Containment swim shorts have built-in briefs, as well as toggles to secure the swim shorts. That way, if you do have an accident, it stays well contained while you’re in the pool. No need to avoid swimming anymore!
Keep in mind that these swim shorts delay void-causing germs from getting in the water. Once you realize you’ve had an accident, leave the pool as soon as you can and wash out your swim shorts.
Bedding Pads
Bedding pads for incontinence are designed to provide protection during the night while also helping you to maintain comfort. Bedding pads tend to have a reputation for being stiff, and can even keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. We love reusable bed pads because they’re infinitely more comfortable without sacrificing the utility that comes with incontinence bed protection.
Bedding Covers
Similar to bedding pads, bedding covers provide a comfortable protection solution. Whether it’s a quilt cover, a fitted sheet, or a pillow cover, it’s easy to protect your bedding. Additionally, they make for an incredibly easy cleaning solution. Instead of taking your quilt in to be dry cleaned or special washed, just take it off and throw it in your washer. Easy as that.
Chair Pads
Relax in your home without the stress and anxiety of a potential accident. A chair pad is a simple yet effective incontinence solution to keep in your home. Whether it’s an armchair to read a few chapters in your book or the dining room chair to enjoy a meal with your family, chair pads are an easy way to give yourself some peace of mind.
Reusable or Disposable?
If you’ve been looking for incontinence products, you’ve probably seen that there’s a good variety of both reusable and disposable supplies. So what are the major differences between the two? What are the pros and cons? Let’s take a deeper look.
On the one hand, we have disposable incontinence products. People love these because they provide a lot of simplicity. Once you’ve used them once, you just toss them out and use a new one the next time you need it.
However, reusable products are going to save you money in the long run. Let’s say that a disposable bed pad costs $1, and a reusable bed pad costs $50. Sure, it’s a bigger investment upfront, but that $50 reusable bed pad can be washed over and over again. You’ll need a new bed pad every day, perhaps multiple times a day, if you go with disposable, which will add up very, very quickly.
Yes, the prospect of being able to toss out a used bed pad sounds simple. However, consider the simplicity that comes with reusable products. When you are investing in high-quality incontinence supplies, you’re able to wash and reuse them multiple times, saving you some serious bucks while also providing a simple washing process to follow.
Relief from Incontinence
Finding relief from your incontinence is not only possible, it’s easily obtainable. Stocking up on all the right products is a great way to give yourself some peace of mind, while also giving you the ability to carry on with your normal, day-to-day routine. There’s no need to dramatically alter your life or schedule in order to accommodate your incontinence. Give yourself the freedom to continue to live life to its fullest!