When an elder is diagnosed with incontinence, he or she might quickly become overwhelmed by the options of incontinence products that are on the market. There are hundreds of products ranging from pads to adult diapers, and this can make it hard to narrow down which product is best for the individual.
If you’re a care taker or an elder who suffers from incontinence, it’s important for you to know how to choose the right product. So, to help you weed out the best products, here are a few things to look for when buying incontinence products.
Size
Size is a crucial factor that often determines how well a product will work for the user. If the wearer isn’t wearing the correct size of product, he or she will likely have to deal with uncomfortable leakage and accidents.
Most incontinence products range in size from extra small to triple large, allowing wearers of every size to find the perfect fitting product. By wearing the right size, the wearer will feel more secure and confident, as well as be more relaxed and open to enjoying life despite their incontinence.
Gender
Most incontinence products are gender specific. Some are better suited for men, while others are better suited for women. While this doesn’t seem like a big deal, buying incontinence products based on the gender of the wearer is important.
Why? This is because extra protection is put in place where each gender needs it most.
Severity
Always consider how severe the wearer’s incontinence is before purchasing an incontinence product.
For some wearers, the incontinence is only a minor issue and doesn’t require a lot of protection, but for others the incontinence can be severe and mean that he or she needs a strong product to put the issue to rest.
The products are made with all incontinence cases in mind, and products can be found for people who need only light protection to those who need full protection such as a person who has lost bladder or bowel control.
Frequency
How frequently the incontinence occurs is something to think about when buying incontinence products.
As a rule of thumb, people who suffer from severe incontinence are more likely to suffer from it frequently, and people who have mild incontinence are likely to only suffer sometimes.
This can mean the difference between the wearer needing strong or light protection.
Comfort
Although incontinence sufferers aren’t usually happy about having to use incontinence products, the products shouldn’t be uncomfortable.
If they are, the wearer should try a different kind of product or a different size. Each wearer has a preference, and this preference should be honored as incontinence is a life-long problem and won’t go away regardless of which type of product is used.
It’s important to remember that incontinence products aren’t one-size-fits-all products. Each person who needs them has different likes and dislikes, and different reasons for needing the products.
Their personal comfort, incontinence frequency and severity, gender, and body type should all be considered before a product is purchased.