Incontinence Does Not Discrimate

Incontinence is a health issue that does not discriminate. It can effect young and old, rich or poor, and men or women. For example - Kate Winslet is a 40 year old woman and Oscar winning movie star that has recently publicly discussed the very private issue of her issues incontinence. Her incontinence came about as result of child bearing that has resulted in weakening of the muscles that support the bladder.

Incontinence can strike at any age and for many reasons. If you are experiencing incontinence, even just a few drips, it is a good idea to consult your doctor as they may have advice, treatment and life changes that can help reduce or eliminate the condition.

People experiencing incontinence may change their lifestyle due to being afraid of leaks or accidents. Luckily there are many products available that can help control leaks and accidents. Not only will these products help you keep the condition discreet, they will also help maintain skin health and overall comfort.

Disposable products for use with incontinence include:

Pads, Liners, & Underwear Inserts - available in a wide range of sizes and absorbencies. Designed to fit right in existing underwear and many times individually packaged for easy transport and use. These products are designed to absorb urine and keep it away from the skin and control odors. Many people will try to use feminine hygiene pads for this purpose, but these items are not designed for use with urine and will not be as effective or provide the same type of leakage and odor control. Pads are also available specifically for men.

Protective Underwear - these are disposable underwear that are designed to pull on and off like regular underwear. Most have side panels that area easily torn/split making clean and comfortable removal possible. Protective Underwear are available in a variety of sizes and absorbencies to allow the wearer to go about their lives with minimal impact. And since they pull on and off individuals can easily change themselves for even more privacy.

Adult Diapers - adult diapers are also commonly referred to as “briefs” in the manufacturing industry. This often causes confusion between them and protective underwear. An adult diaper is a garment that folds around the waist and up through the crotch area and secures with tabs made of tape or a hook and loop (think Velcro) type of fastener on the side. These products are great for use by caregivers for a number of reasons including ease of assisted changing for bedridden wearers.

Science and technology have come a long way in designing thinner and more absorbent materials allowing these disposable incontinence products to be thinner yet highly absorbent.

There are many people from all walks of life and ages dealing with incontinence. It is a very common issue and should be discussed with your doctor. Here is a helpful link to a previous article on how to discuss incontinence with your doctor.  There are many disposable incontinence products on the market to help maintain dignity and discretion.

How to Determine the Correct Size of Walking Cane

Selecting a cane that fits the user properly is extremely important for comfort and safety. Measuring properly will help avoid the user from having to lean towards the cane or hold it too high compared to their body to allow them the extra desired stability. The correct height of cane will allow the user to maximize stability and safety.

Here are a few ways to determine the correct height of cane that will best support the user.

Measure the size of an existing cane:

1. If there is already a cane in use that fits the user correctly then simply measure this and make your selection.

Measure the user:

1. First put a pair of frequently worn shoes on the user that they would wear when walking. 
2. Have the user stand upright as naturally as possible. 
3. Have their arms fall naturally to their sides with a normal relaxed bend at the elbow. 
4. Use a measuring tape to measure the distance from their wrist joint at the bottom crease of the wrist to the floor. 
5. Round this up to the nearest half inch and make your selection.

Measure the users height in inches and divide by two:

1. This method may not always be as accurate as the previous measurements. 
2. Convert the users height to inches. 
3. Divide this number in half. 
4. Round to the nearest half inch.

These are some ways to measure for a cane and are a general guideline. If you have any any questions we always recommend that you seek help from a health care professional to ensure you are using the cane correctly and that you have the correct size.

Also, remember that a cane are not intended to be used like a crutch for full weight bearing. A cane simply adds additional point(s) of contact on the ground to affect balance, relieve joints and provide additional stability.

Canes are available in many shapes and sizes. Some are single point canes and others have four points and are known as "quad canes". Many canes are height adjustable and allow the user to set the height to their specific needs. Canes are also made of many different materials such as wood and lightweight aluminum.

Differences between Walkers and a Rollators

Walkers and Rollators are walking assist devices for individuals that would benefit from a walking assistant device and a cane does not provide the correct or enough stability stability. Just like canes, walkers and rollators come in many configurations, sizes and weights. The individual using these devices should consider these factors as well as where the items will be use (indoors, outdoors, or both) as well as the overall width if the device will be used in tight spaces.

Walkers

A Walker is a device that has multiple legs and is used for mobility for anyone that needs extra assistance when walking (think of multiple canes connected together to provide a wider area and stance). Walkers are available many different configurations with the most popular being 4 legged with either rubber caps or glides on the end of the legs, or 2 wheeled versions which have two legs with caps or glides and two legs with wheels.

Any configuration is generally designed to work well on floors or flat surfaces and provide added resistance for someone who needs a little extra help standing and / or walking. Most are a folding design to make them easy and convenient for travel or storage.

Walkers come in a wide range of sizes and weight capacities to fit users individual needs. Be sure to consider handle height and the weight of the user as well as the width of the walker when choosing which is best for you.

Rollators
A Rollator is like a walker with a wheel at the bottom of each leg. Some have 3 legs, but the most common have 4. Common features available on different rollator configurations may include a seat, backrest, pouch or basket, adjustable height arms and grips, choice of colors, size of wheels, and hand brakes. Three-wheeled rollators will generally not include a seat. Many rollators will fold up for easy storage and transport.

The wheels and tires on rollators may be caster style or fixed. Caster style wheels allow the individual wheels to pivot completely around for maximum maneuverability (think of the front wheels of most grocery store shopping carts). Fixed wheels would be attached to the end of the leg and not pivot (think of the back wheels on most grocery story shopping carts).

Rollators are also made in various sizes, weights and weight capacities to accommodate all shapes, sizes and types of users. When choosing a rollator you should consider the users weight and the height that you wish to have the hand grips. Also, some rollators are wide so it is a good idea to consider the width if it will be used in tight or combined spaces.

Rollators are also popular as you can side on the padded seat if you get tired. Many also have pouches or baskets under the seat making it easy to carry personal items when you are on the go.

People that would benefit from the stability and convenience of a walker or rollator have many different choices in different budgets for the device that best fits their needs. It is always a good idea to consider the specific needs of the user and how and where they will use the walker or rollator when choosing the best option.

Introducing Nestle Boost Compact Oral Nutrition in 4 Ounce Servings

Introducing the all new Nestle Boost Compact Oral Nutrition beverage that packs 240 calories and 10g of high quality protein in each 4 ounce bottle! This is the perfect solution for individuals that want the nutritional benefits of Boost Original, but have a challenge drinking an 8 ounce serving.

Boost Compact Beverage is available in two delicious flavors - Rich Chocolate or Very Vanilla. It tastes good and includes 26 essential vitamins and minerals to meet daily needs including Vitamin D and Calcium.

Boost Compact is low in fat with just 6g of total fat (with just 1g of saturated fat) and 10 mg cholesterol per serving.

Boost Original in 8 ounce containers is still available, but now there is an tasty new 4 ounce Boost Compact. Nestle products are available in a wide range of products for every nutritional need.

FTC Charges Four Cancer Charities with Bilking over $187 Million from Consumers

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleges that four charities bilked consumers out of over $187 million falsely claiming that the donations would help pay for pain medicines, hospice care and other services. Unfortunately, these donations were spent on cars, trips, sports tickets and professional fund raisers. This story is currently the largest graphical banner on the FTC homepage. You can read the full article on the FTC website by clicking here.

The four charities named in the federal court complaint are:

• Cancer Support Services, Inc
• Cancer Support Services, Inc
• Children’s Cancer Fund of America, Inc
• The Breast Cancer Society, Inc

The so called “charities” raised millions of dollars by the use of telemarketing calls, direct mail, websites, and materials distributed by the Combined Federal Campaign (which raises money from federal employees for non-profit organizations). Please do not confuse these organizations with other great organizations that may have similar sounding names.

The sad thing here is that people were donating money out of the goodness of their own heart and this money was used by a few people for personal gain. This negatively impacts the good nature of people who genuinely want to help, but don’t want to get ripped off by con artists.

When my wife went through treatment for breast cancer last year that included surgery and chemotherapy we saw good organizations doing great things to support her and the other patients. These organizations included the American Cancer Society (www.Cancer.org) and Face in the Mirror (www.FaceInTheMirror.org). The American Cancer Society was very familiar by name, but I had no idea until we went through this process how much they actually do to support people going through issues with cancer. Face in The Mirror was completely unknown to me until this experience and they were so kind and actually pampered my wife during these difficult treatments that I cannot say enough good things about their program.

The message here is that there are good charitable organizations out there that really do help. If you are thinking about donating money there are resources such as Charity Navigator (www.CharityNavigator.org) that tracks and rates charities on a number of criteria including their goals, mission and use of funds. This site might help clear up concerns or at least help you understand if your money is going to help in the way that you prefer. Don’t let bad people slow you down and stop donating, just take a few minutes to educate yourself about the organization and move forward when you are ready.

Why it is important to get enough fluids if you have urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence can be inconvenient, uncomfortable and embarrassing for both the patient and family and friends. Often times people will reduce the amount of fluid intake to help control incontinence leakage. It might seem logival to prevent accidents, but it doesn't.

When a person does not get enough fluids it can actually cause urine odor to increase and get stronger. I was recently speaking with my friend about her mothers "unspoken about issue" and she was commenting on the strong smell like ammonia that was always present. She was worried that it was fecal or bowel incontinence and didn't realize that that was a strong and offensive urine related odor. We discussed two factors: 

1. Choosing the right incontinence protection item is important. My friend was fairly certain her mother was using a feminine hygiene pad rather than an incontinence garment.
2. She didn't think that her mother was drinking much other than her morning cups of coffee and as little as possible the rest of the day. 

Both of these factors were probably contributing to the odor and probably not helping. Also, the reduction in fluid intake was not helping control the incontinence leakage.

Generally speaking, drinking plenty of water in small amounts during the day can actually help leakage and improve bladder control as well as help reduce odors. 8 ounces with meals, sipping water between meals, and limiting liquids a couple of hours before bedtime can help. Avoiding or reducing caffeinated beverages, citric juices and carbonated beverages can also help. 

All of this is general information to help ensure a person is getting enough fluids and not avoiding it to reduce urinary incontinence. My mothers friend, as well as anybody reading this that is experiencing urinary incontinence, should talk to their doctor or healthcare provider. Information like this is very generally and should never be construed as medical advice. Click here to go to a previous article regarding how to speak with your doctor or healthcare provider about incontinence.

There are many actions and steps individuals dealing with urinary incontinence can improve their situation.

Incontinence pads or feminine hygiene pads?

Many people may be incorrectly using feminine hygiene menstrual pads for urinary incontinence protection. While these pads may look very similar and provide area coverage that is similar, they do in fact provide very different types of protection and serve a different purpose. The question is which is best or simply put - incontinence pads vs menstrual pads?

Incontinence pads are also commonly known by many different names including bladder control pads, liners, urinary pads, and incontinence shields. These pads are designed with varying degrees of fluid absorption capabilities. The protection level is provided by the materials and fabrics used in the manufacturing of the pads as well as the size of the pad. Technology has improved in many of these areas that allow the use of materials such as superabsobent microbeads that provide superior absorbency while minimizing pad thickness and size.

Feminine menstrual pads, or sanitary napkins, are designed specifically to absorb blood that is slow or in a trickle. Incontinence pads are designed specifically to absorb and provide protection and peace of mind with involuntary loss of urine. They are simply not designed to handle the chemical make up and composition of urine.

Incontinence pads also are designed absorb and disperse urine quickly. They also help provide odor control associated with urine as well as the fluid absorbency. The structure of the pads helps keep skin dry and healthy by pulling the urine away from the skin into the pad core.

There are pads available specifically for men, women or either. Some pads have adhesive strips or patches to held the pads in place where protection is needed most and some do not have adhesive and are held in place simply by special undergarments or underwear. There are even pads known as booster pads that are designed to be used with other incontinence products to increase their absorbency and reduce changing of protective underwear or adult diapers.

In conclusion, feminine pads are designed specifically for use in the absorption of a slow trickle of blood for the female menstrual cycle. Incontinence pads are designed to accommodate the faster flow and absorption, as well as the chemical composition, of urine. Both are designed for unique purposes and specific kinds of protection. Your best option for urinary incontinence protection is an incontinence pad is designed specifically for this need. 

What is the name of specific Vitamins?

Vitamins are organic substances made by animals or plants that are an essential part of nutrition for a healthy body. Vitamins are required by the body to grow and develop normally. Normally a person consumes vitamins by consuming a variety of foods. If the body is deficient of these vitamins it may be necessary to supplement foods with vitamins in a pill form.

Please note that you should always check with your doctor before taking any product - including vitamins and minerals.

So what is Vitamin B, C Retinol, Riboflavin, etc. There are many names bouncing around out there and here is a chart to help simplify and identify what Vitamin matches its other name. We have broken this down into two sections: Water-Soluble Vitamins and Fat-Soluble Vitamins.

Water Soluble Vitamins:

Vitamin B1

• Thamine
• Thiamin
• Aneruine

Vitamin B2

• Riboflavin

Vitamin B3

• Niacin
• Niacinamide
• Nicotinamide
• Nicotinic Acid

Vitamin B5

• Pantothenic Acid

Vitamin B6

• Pyridoxine
• Pyridoxal
• Pyridoxamine

Vitamin B7

• Biotin

Vitamin B9

• Folic Acid

Vitamin B12

• Cobalamin
• Cyanocobalamin
• Cobamide

Vitamin C

• Absorb Acid

Fat Soluble Vitamins:

Vitamin A

• Beta Carotene

Vitamin D

• Cholecalciferol

Vitamin E

• Tocopherols
• Tocotrienols

Vitamin K

• Phylloquinone
• Menaquinones

Many people get enough of their daily vitamins from their regular food intake. For people that don't or can't, Vitamin supplements are readily available in many forms to ensure you get your daily allowances.

Kimberly Clark Healthcare is now Halyard Health

Kimberly Clark Health Care products are now Halyard Health products. The name has changed, but they are the same great products with the same dependable quality.

The transition on these products will occur over the next 24 months. These changes include new packaging and product branding, but the products will remain the same.

Products formerly Kimberly Clark Health Care that are transition to Halyard Health include:

• Medical exam gloves
• Patient care products
• Facial & Respiratory products
• Hand hygiene products
• Protective Apparel
• PPE dispensers
• Surgical gowns
• Sterilization solutions
• Surgical drapes, packs and equipment covers
• Surgical accessories
• Advanced Wound Care Dressings
• Plus many other products

Over the course of the transition products will begin to ship in the new packaging as existing inventories of Kimberly Clark Health Care products decline. But rest assured that products have not changed and will continue to be the high quality excellent products that were available in the past.

How to Change an Adult Diaper Step by Step

Changing an adult diaper for the first time may be a bit uncomfortable for all involved. The key is to remain calm and respectful and ensure that the patient is provided with dignity, comfort, and the best possible care.

There are several situations to consider when changing an adult diaper. The first thing to do is to determine how the patient will be positioned during the diaper change. Will they be lying down, sitting, or standing up. We will provide a basic outline for each position below. It will probably seem naturally uncomfortable to perform this task at first - for both caregiver and patient, but over time it should become easier for all involved.

An adult diaper is also known as a brief. For simple clarification we will use the term diaper to describe the garment in this how-to change an adult diaper guide. This is a general guide to assist those confronted with adult diaper change for the first time. Slight product variations and types may require slight modifications to the process.

Steps to change an adult diaper for patient that is lying down:

1. Roll person gently onto their side. Place diaper with the flap folded under nearest to the body.
2. Roll the person gently back and unfold flap.
3. Go to final steps for all positions listed below.

Steps to change an adult diaper for patient that is sitting down:

1. Open diaper and place backing/ plastic cover against the back of the chair
2. Position person onto the diaper.
3. Go to final steps for all positions listed below.

Steps to change an adult diaper for patient that is standing up:

1. While person is standing have them hold onto something for support to ensure they don’t fall.
2. Place a clean diaper between the persons legs from front to back.
3. Go to final steps for all positions listed below.

Final Steps for all Positions

1. Pull diaper firmly, pulling it out and then up. The diaper should fit snugly in the groin. Gently smooth the front.
2. Fasten bottom tabs first, angled up. (if using a single tab diaper then pull across and up)
3. Fasten top tabs pointing down for best fit.
4. If diaper has hook and loop tabs you will want to give a slight tug to the anchor hooks in the back cover fibers.
5. Adjust the diaper by pulling the folds of the inner thigh down and fitting the brief into the groin.
6. Adjust the outer garments.

It may take a few tries to get your diaper changing system down for the individual patient. The key is to make sure the diaper is snug without any bunching or gaps that will allow leakage.

Introducing the All New Tena Dry Comfort Briefs and Protective Underwear

SCA Tena is a leading manufacturer of adult incontinence products known for their absorbency, comfort and most of all quality. They have just introduced a new line of economically priced Adult Diapers (briefs) and Protective Underwear called Tena Dry Comfort.

We are very excited to launch these new high quality low price point incontinence products. It is a great product line for people that are looking for value, quality and comfort.

Here is more information on each of these great new incontinence products from SCA Tena

Tena Dry Comfort Briefs Adult Diapers

• Provides moderate incontinence protection
• For use with urinary/ bladder and/or bowel/ fecal incontinence
• Comfortable and flexible fit
• Readjustable hook fasteners for perfect fit
• Controls odors
• Curved leg elastics for close and leak proof fit
• Wetness indicator on outside of diaper
• Available to fit waist/hip sizes from 34” up-to 64”
• Tena product codes 67620, 67640, and 67650

Tena Dry Comfort Protective Underwear

• Provides moderate incontinence protection
• For use with urinary/ bladder and/or bowel/ fecal incontinence
• Pull on and off like regular underwear
• Thin, yet highly absorbent
• Tear away sides for easy removal
• Available for waist/hip sizes from 34” up-to 66”
• Tena product codes 72422, 72423, and 72424

Be sure to check out the new Tena Dry Comfort line of incontinence products If you are in the market for high quality adult diaper or protective underwear.

Best Spray Deodorizers for Urine Smell

We are frequently asked what is the best room deodorizer to help with the smell of urine or feces. There are many great products available to help create a clean smelling environment. The best deodorizers for this purpose will actually be the type used by hospitals and care environments that neutralize odors rather than simply putting a strong pleasant fragrances over offensive odors.

Keeping a room or home pleasant and fresh smelling is vital to both caregivers and patients. Using a high quality deodorizer in one step in the process to maintain a pleasant environment. In addition to deodorizers, it is important to keep surfaces clean, patients clean and keep soiled linens put away in sealed containers.

But, back to the original question of what room deodorizers work best for urine or feces odors. Incontinence Products Plus offers a wide selection of products in this category. These are not simply fragrances to cover, but odor neutralizers. Here are some of the most popular with our customers that simply require a couple of squirts from the spray mist bottles to help control offensive odors:

Medi-Air Biological Odor Eliminator Room Deodorizer Spray - This is a concentrated spray formula the chemically eliminates odors. It comes available in several scents including unscented, fresh air and lemon. This product eliminates odors extremely well is a popular mainstay of health care facilities and home users alike. The lemon and fresh air scents leave a light pleasant smell.

M9 Odor Eliminator - This deodorizer is available in unscented or apple scent. This product is popular for odor control for incontinence and/or osmotic associated odors.

ByeBye Odor Room Deodorizer - This deodorizers neutralizes odors completely and leave a very light pleasant scent. Perfect for use in homes, hospitals and public restrooms. The low cost makes it a popular options for office restrooms as well as healthcare facilities.

AprilFresh Biological Odor Eliminator - This is another popular room deodorizer that is relatively inexpensive and does a great job. It also leave behind a fresh scent that lingers after use.

Ease Odor Eliminator - This also eliminates odors and leaves behind a gentle rose scent. This is a popular deodorizer that is popular for use in homes with urine or fecal odor. It is also used for other airborne odors such as smoke.

We have many deodorizers for use in rooms to help make the house more pleasant for everyone. The key is to use a deodorizer that neutralizes and eliminates odors rather than simply covering them up with other smells.

How to Wash Your Hands with Soap and Water or Hand Sanitizers

Everyday it seems like there are more stories in the news about contagious illness, cold & flu, and even the very terrifying antibiotic resistant superbugs, or nightmare bacteria. In an article on CNN written by Ben Brumfield reported that seven patients at a Los Angeles hospital have recently caught CRE (carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae) after routine treatments for bile duct, gall bladder or pancreas. You can go directly to the full story on CNN by clicking on this link.

The author also states that CRE is part of a family of bacterial usually found in hospitals and other health care facilities that have evolved a huge resistance to antibiotics. Fortunately, you don’t get it when somebody sneezes on you. You have to touch an infected wound or stool, than touch a vulnerable part of the body - like an open wound. That’s why if doesn’t spread on the street but instead in hospitals where it can accidentally be spread by touch.

The article also goes on to encourage cleanliness as a good way to fight the spread. This is probably how the article should have stated because it is so simple and beneficial. This means washing hands, sterilizing instruments, and if you are in a hospital reminding the staff to do the same.

Washing hands regularly is extremely important to reduce the spread of germs and bacteria. The CDC suggests when and how to wash your hands to help stop spreading germs from one person to another on their website.  Here is a helpful link to the Wash your Hands page on the CDC.Gov website.

The CDC Recommends that you would Wash your Hands When:

• Before, during and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning a child that has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After touching garbage

What is the Right Way to Wash your Hands?

• Wet you hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap
• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails
• Scrubs your hands for at least 20 seconds, Need a timer? Hume the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
• Rinse your hands well under clean, running water
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them

What should you do if you don’t have soap and clean running water?
Use an alcohol based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of microbes on hands in some situations, but do not eliminate all types of germs.

Hand sanitizers may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy, How do you use Hand Sanitizers?

• Apply the product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount)
• Rub hands together
• Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry

A few simple steps in cleanliness may help reduce the spread of germs that cause illness. It is simple and not time consuming.

There are also products to clean and disinfect hard porous surfaces such as tables, seating surfaces, door knobs, etc. For more information on these products and how they work, please see our previous article “Surface Disinfection for Cleaner & Healthier Living”.

Incontinence Underpads can be used for puppy potty training to protect floors from accidents

Reusable bed pads are an awesome puppy or dog potty training option. The term "piddle pad" is a cute way of describing this use of underpads. These pads are heavy duty enough to withstand those claws and paws and have the ability to soak up urine quickly. Most of all they help protect floors and carpeting from smells, stains and messes. These pads were specifically designed to be used to cover beds and seating surfaces to protect them from human urinary incontinence leaks, but we have personally found that they also work great to help keep our floors and carpets protected from pet messes and accidents. 

Many people prefer disposable underpads for this task. In fact, many pet stores carry pads specifically marketed to use with dogs, but they appear to me to just be a moderate to heavy absorption disposable underpads with special K9 specific packaging and marketing. I think that for many people disposable pads are very convenient and will work fine for dog potty training, but we found that we prefer the reusable pads.

First of all it is important to point out that we are a dog family. We have two wonderful 60 pound mutts that have access to the outdoors though a doggie-door. We have also recently adopted a 14 pound Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that we have named Abbigale, or Abby for short. Due to her size we have decided to not train her to use the doggie-door and get free access to the outdoors.

She was a rescue dog and although she is not a puppy she was never properly potty trained. We honestly have no idea what her background was like, but she is kind and sweet and pretty much rules the household at this point. She fit right in with the other dogs without a problem.

She is doing really well, but when we do have to leave her alone we have chosen to put her in an extra bedroom with her bed and toys. Rather than closing the door we have a see through/ walk through baby gate in the doorway so she can see the other dogs and what is going on in other parts of the house. We leave the reusable underpaid in doorway on her side of the gate and it works perfect when she can’t hold it any longer. We have had no accidents on the carpet and the when we come home the pad is never crumpled or bunched up even if it has been used. Luckily she is never alone for long, but when she needs to go and there is nobody home we can know that she is not destroying floors or carpets.

We prefer the Plaidbex Plaid Reusable Pads from Beck’s simply because they look a bit nicer than a white surfaced pad for this purpose. The top absorbent part of the pad is a very nice looking plaid pattern and the vinyl waterproof backing on the bottom is blue. They are also very high quality and withstand the abuses of the dog as well as being washed over and over again. They are designed to be washed by industrial laundry services, so they can easily withstand the heat and washing provided by our home washer and dryer. 

Directions for washing Beck’s Reusable Underpads are simple:

• Machine wash in normal setting
• Don’t put bleach directly on pads
• Don’t use fabric softeners
• Dry on normal settings

We have washed our underpads many times now and they do not show any signs of wear and tear. I have heard that some lower quality pads start to having problems with the vinyl material used in the waterproof backing after multiple washings, but we are not seeing any of this type of issue.

We keep three pads on hand  so that we always have at least one that is clean. They are relatively inexpensive, especially when considering the lifetime value of these well made pads. Beck's Pads are made in the USA of high quality materials. 

If you have puppies, dogs or even cats and have concerns about floor messes then the reusable bedpads might just be the solution you are looking for to protect those surfaces. Here's a photo of our camera shy model Abbey posing on her Paidbex Plaid Underpad.

Surface Disinfection for Cleaner & Healthier Living Environments

Washing your hand frequently, covering your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, and staying home when you are ill are all basic steps people are familiar with to help avoid the spread of illness and germs, especially during the Cold & Flu Season. We teach this to toddlers and remind kids as they grow up to take these kinds of precautions. Yet somehow many adults do not follow these simple protocols.

It is amazing how many times I have personally seen people use a public restroom, walk up to the sink and mirror and check their hair, and then simply walk out without washing their hands. It amazes me and forces me to add an extra step in my process to use an extra tissue or paper towel as a barrier between my washed hands and the door handle of these public facilities. I am not an obsessive compulsive hand cleaner or germaphobe, but this in the simplest terms is just gross.

Luckily we can help control our environment and keep door knobs and other community surfaces clean with Surface Disinfectants. These disinfectants are available in sprays or wipes. Spray from brands like Lysol are nice and can also be used on certain fabrics in addition to hard surfaces. Wipes such as CaviWipes 1 are handy because they simply pull out of the container and are used to wipe the hard surface. When done the wipes is simply thrown away. These wipes are not to be confused with Skin Cleansing Wipes or Hand Sanitizers and should not be used on the skin. In fact, Disposable Gloves are recommended when using these wipes.

Surface Disinfectants are very efficient in killing many organisms, viruses, bacteria, fungi and pathogens on surfaces when used properly and following instructions on the packaging. There are products designed specifically for different surfaces and environments. Each product will list the organisms that they kill and the time required to do so effectively. These disinfectants are used directly on surfaces so any cleaning of waste, blood or other contaminants should be done prior to disinfection.

Many organizes such as healthcare and food preparation already have standards and practices in place to ensure cleanliness and reduce and eliminate the spread of these organisms. Your work environment and even you home can also be cleaned to help fight these bugs. In our office we have regular cleaning parties in which shared community surfaces are wipes and cleaned regularly including door knobs, handles, file cabinets, community phones, refrigerator, tables and chairs. In addition individuals are provided with gloves and wipes to clean their desktop, keyboard, mouse, phone and other surfaces. These practices are increased during the cold and flu season to attempt to keep everyone health and active.

These simple and quick steps help maintain a healthy and clean environment. Basic cleanliness in hand washing and covering your mouth is the started point and the act of surface disinfection helps keep the environment cleaner for everyone. 

Introducing Abena Premium Incontinence Products

Abena is a leading manufacturer of disposable incontinence products in Europe, but also source a wide range of health care and trade products globally. They are based in Denmark and have over 30 years of experience manufacturing absorbent products. They provide superior quality products with a wide range if absorption to fit needs from light to heavy or severe incontinence. Their high quality products are designed to not let you down.

In addition to producing high quality products Abena is also committed to preserving the environment. They are the first and only producer of incontinence pads to get the Nordic Eco-label, and they recycle 95% of all waste from production of incontinence pads and baby diapers in Denmark. Every possible precaution is made to keep waste levels to an absolute minimum. The waste consists of foil wrapping from raw materials and surplus textiles.

Most importantly to you is the fact that they make premium products for the comfort and care of individuals with incontinence. We are proud to offer their products to you and will continue to add Abena products as they are developed or become available in the US.

The premium Abena disposable product lines includes the following products:

Abri-Form Premium Adult Diapers - Features & Benefits

• Complete range available for moderate to heavy incontinence protection
• Provides optimum security and leak protection
• Are discrete and comfortable
• Superabsorbent
• Full breathability
• Soft and comfortable and noiseless
• Latex-free and non-chlorine bleached
• Flexible tape for repositioning

Abri-Flex Premium Protective Underwear - Features & Benefits

• Pull-up style protection worn like regular underwear
• Utilizes more elastic threads to make it hug the body and stay in place like normal underwear
• Full breathability
• Soft and reliable leakage barriers
• Superabsrobent
• Soft and comfortable and noiseless
• Latex-free and non-chlorine bleached

Abri-San Premium Pads - Features & Benefits

• Anatomically shaped pads designed for all degrees of incontinence.
• Range of pads covering both urinary incontinence (Abri-San) and fecal (Abri-San Special)
• Abri-San Features:
• Cotton-feel textile back sheet
• Full breathability
• Unique Top Dry system providing a dry surface
• Latex-free and non-chorine bleached
• Sizes 0-4 are single wrapped
• Abri-San Special Features:
• Specifically designed to handle fecal incontinence
• Provides effective leakage barrier with “built-in” pockets that keep bowel contents inside, even when released under pressure

Abri-Man Premium Pads for Men - Features & Benefits

• Designed specifically for the male anatomy
• Provides discreet solution that enables user to lead a normal and active life
• Pocket shaped lengthwise barriers
• Extra absorbent at the front
• Breathable textile backsheet

The Abena Premium line of disposable incontinence products provide superior comfort and protection. Available now at Incontinence Products Plus.