Incontinence Products Selection Guide

In order to select the best incontinence products for your needs it is important to understand what types of incontinence products are available, the strengths and weaknesses of the products and how they are used. It is important to ensure the balance between protection and overall health are managed as well a building confidence and improving the quality of life for the wearer.

After getting an understanding of this information you can then start looking at the product details to fit your needs even more specifically for size and fit, absorption, bladder and/or bowel incontinence and pricing. 

This article is intended to provide information by incontinence product type to help you narrow down your decision process. Within each product type are many variation - both large and small - that will help you fine tune your product selection process.

Adult Diapers

Adult Diapers are also known as adult briefs, disposable briefs and adult nappies. Diapers are incontinence garments that are a folded piece of material with absorbent qualities that is placed between the wearers legs, drawn up and then fastened at the sides on the waist. Fasteners may be of a taped variety or hook and loop products (like Velcro). They are designed to be worn comfortably, but snug to ensure best leakage protection. 

Good for use when: wearer is bed ridden or immobile, wearer is large sized or bariatric, for use with bowel incontinence

Not as good for use when: Wearer is changed when standing, wearer would like to change themselves easily

Protective Underwear

Protective underwear are also known as disposable underwear, pull-ups and pull ons. They are essentially pull up style undergarments that have absorbent material built into the garment. Available in gender specific or unisex styles. Many protective underwear brands have easy tear aways sides to make removal easier and cleaner. It important to have a comfortable, yet snug fit to help ensure that no leaks occur. These garments have elastic or similar materials built into the waist to provide fit and comfort without having to use tape or fasteners to "snug" the fit. 

Good for use when: Wearer is mobile and able to dress themselves and manage their own incontinence, wearers that want ease and discretion in managing their own incontinence and users that need protection for either bladder or bowel incontinence. 

Not as good for use when: wearer is bedridden or immobile. 

Pads and Liners

Bladder control pads and liners are also known as urinary pads, pant liners, panty liners, underwear liners, or shields. These pads are designed to be worn inside underwear or special incontinence garments to provide absorption where it is needed. Some pads have adhesive strips to hold in place. Designed with various configurations, shapes and absorptions to help avoid embarrassing leaks.

Good for use when: Absorbency for urinary incontinence is needed, wearer would like to maintain maximum discretion, wearer wants to continue to wear their regular underwear or when extra absorbency is needed in a diaper or protective underwear.

Not as good for use when: dealing with bowel incontinence, complete bladder incontinence with large void volumes

Underpads

Underpads are also known as chux, chucks, bed pads, seat pads or chair pads. An underpad is an absorbent material with a waterproof backing that is designed to absorb fluids and protect surfaces from undesirable leaks. This product is often used in conjunction with other incontinence products as a last layer of protection for the mattress or seating surface. Available in many absorbencies, sizes and types (disposable or reusable).

Good for use when: leaks sometimes cause extra linen changes at night, leaks are ruining seating and bedding surfaces, leaks are causing undesirable skin wetness exposure.

Not as good for: use as an only product when large volumes of leakage or frequent leakage occurs, user wiggles or moves around frequently causing pad to shift and not provide protection where needed. 

Belted Undergarments

Belted undergarments are sort of a hybrid product similar to an adult diaper and an incontinence pad combined. It is essentially a large pad that has band(s) that attach to the side of the garment to hold in place. 

Good for use when: wearer is bedridden or immobile and / or frequent changes are needed 

Not as good for: users that need wider protection and bowel incontinence

This information is provided as a general guide. It is important to note that products are always evolving and changing as new technology and designed become available. For example - pads are now available in larger sizes and can accommodate heavy as well as bowel incontinence. It is important to understand the type of product and then review the detailed product information about a specific item to ensure it meets your needs for sizing, absorption and type of incontinence. 

We would like to also point out that we often receive questions about using women's monthly period pads as incontinence pads. The materials and technologies used in the designs of these pads are different as they provide different protections for different fluids. It is always recommended that incontinence products are used to manage and protect for urinary incontinence.