It is commonly heard that if you wear incontinence products you cease to perform ordinary duties. This is an erroneous conclusion. It is possible to live an active and dignified life despite incontinence. The answer lies in making the right decisions when it matters. The choices you make when buying adult diapers determines how effective they will be. Here are tips to ensure that the products work.
Understand Your Incontinence
There are different forms of incontinence. Some are fecal while others are urinary. There are incontinence conditions that result from loss of control over both bowel and bladder. Each of these conditions requires a different approach.
You need to understand the severity of the condition when buying incontinence products. While some instances are severe, there are incontinence conditions that are mild as well. Instead of buying heavy duty products while you are only trying to cope with a mild condition, you should consider products designed with your severity in mind. This will save you money and make it more comfortable to live a normal as well as active life.
Choose the Right Size
Like ordinary clothing, incontinence products come in different sizes. There are fixed sizes and adjustable ones. The effectiveness of any incontinence product will depend on how well it fits the wearer. For instance, a product that is too small is bound to snap and thus lead to leakage. If the product is too big it will naturally leak.
Different brands use varying metrics to determine the size. For instance, a ‘Small’ sized adult diaper for one brand may be similar in size to the ‘Medium’ of another brand. To cure this challenge, it is advisable that you measure the waist of the wearer and carry the measurements with you to the store. It might take a few tries before you get the best size. Further, the size of the wearer may change over time due to his or her condition. Evaluate the size you have chosen regularly.
Gender
Most incontinence products are designed for different genders. There are male incontinence products and female incontinence products. The design is determined by the physiological features of both men and women. The positioning of the most absorbent materials differs on whether the diaper will be used by a man or woman.
When buying the diapers, ensure that you buy a product that is best for the gender of the wearer. There are also unisex incontinence products available that are designed for use by either gender. Their enhanced absorption regions cater for the needs of both men and women. They are best suited for situations where you are getting a reasonable discount or for spares in case the sex-specific diapers run out of stock. Most unisex products are meant for fecal incontinence.
Quality of Material
The quality of material determines the integrity of the incontinence product especially when it comes to preventing leakage and keeping the user dry. It will also influence comfort especially when you have to wear a diaper over a prolonged period. The best quality material is soft on your skin and keeps the wearer dry for hours.
The quality of material will be determined by the type of incontinence product you are buying. For instance, the material used on disposable diapers is different from what is used on reusable adult diapers. The extent of incontinence also determines the quality of material used in its manufacturing. Choose a material that will keep your skin dry and feel comfortable irrespective of whether you have the diapers on for a few hours or the entire day.
Regular Checks
Monitor the incontinence product regularly to correct any malfunction. The straps could have snapped or the elasticity may diminish causing the diaper to go loose. It is especially important to monitor the performance of an adult diaper if the wearer is incapacitated. Regular checks reduce the possibility of extensive soiling.
Regular checks also involve removing the diapers when you are required to do so. For instance, if the label indicates that it can only take 200ml of urine, do not allow it to be worn for too long. It will be useless to buy incontinence products only for you to allow them to be worn for a longer period that increase the chances of the wearer still getting soiled.
Condition of The Wearer
Match the incontinence products you buy with the condition of the wearer. Adult diapers must be fastened. However, there are instances where some wearers are incapacitated while other wearers are active. While it is easy to slip the diaper on a user who is active, putting a diaper on an incapacitated wearer could prove to be challenging. In case the wearer is violent and could tear a disposable diaper, you should consider a more durable variety of diapers. Matching incontinence products with the condition of the wearer improves its rate of effectiveness.
Living a comfortable and a dignified life despite incontinence will depend on the product you choose. What parameters can you use to guide your decision and ensure that the diaper you buy is the most appropriate? Here are tips that will guide you while you buy incontinence products
Easy movement – any human being, regardless of his or her condition will require moving about with ease. The diaper should make it easy for the wearer to perform ordinary activities like walking, sitting, etc. This means selecting the right size and a diaper made of a material that does not break during movement.
Comfort on the skin – incontinence products are made of different materials. Some are comfortable to the skin and do not cause irritation or sweating. It allows the wearer to wear the diaper for a prolonged period. You do not want a diaper that leaves you with rashes or lacerations.
Shopping convenience – incontinence is highly embarrassing for most people. You would rather shop for your adult diapers discretely. Go to a brand or store that offers online shopping and discrete delivery. The brand you choose to buy from should be reliable to avoid the need to return products or to prevent getting the quality you did not order.
Incontinence products are supposed to offer comfort and dignity regardless of your health condition. It would be a waste of resources if you bought and used products that did not serve their purpose. To enjoy the benefits of these products, you have to make the right decision before buying and while using them as well. Consult an expert to help you make the right decision.
Original Source: Storify.com