Although incontinence of the bladder or bowel can be well treated today by various conservative and surgical treatments, not all cases are cured or improved. In these cases, patients rely on incontinence hygiene products.
What is incontinence hygiene?
The term incontinence hygiene stands for measures that become necessary in the case of bladder or bowel incontinence in order to allow affected persons to lead as normal a life as possible. The term incontinence hygiene stands for measures that become necessary in the case of bladder or bowel incontinence in order to enable those affected to lead as normal a life as possible. When the bladder or bowels no longer function properly, it is a major emotional problem for people suffering from incontinence. They can no longer hold their urine or bowel movements and and it literally “goes down the drain.” Other people might see it or smell it. Incontinence patients suffer from this condition, which causes them to withdraw more and more from social life. Therefore, despite treatment, they usually also need special products and measures for incontinence hygiene, which allow them to live a normal life as far as possible.
Forms, types and kinds
There are incontinence products for different types and severities of incontinence. For mild bladder incontinence, small pads are often sufficient. They usually have a fluid indicator that shows when the pad needs to be changed. For moderate to severe incontinence, there are special pads with a larger and stronger insert and fixation pants to prevent the pads from slipping. For the most severe incontinence, fixation briefs and pads with a higher storage capacity are usually used. For men, there are special products that are better adapted to the male anatomy. There are special bed protection pads for bedding protection. In the case of bowel incontinence, special cleaning measures are also required to remove fecal debris from the skin so that it does not become sore and inflamed.
Structure and mode of operation
Incontinence hygiene products must meet several requirements. They must catch involuntarily discharged urine or feces, ensure optimal protection of the skin and be easy to attach to the body. Incontinence products must therefore contain various components:
- Suction body
- Laundry protection
- Skin protection
- Wetness indicator
- Fixation options
There are three different types of absorbents. Today, two-layer and three-layer absorbent pads are predominantly used because single-layer absorbent pads cannot hold the liquid as well and often return moisture to the body. Good underwear protection depends on an optimal fit. To ensure this, manufacturers have provided pants and diaper briefs with elastic cuffs on the legs, and sometimes also on the abdomen and back. The better these fit the legs, abdomen or back, the more effective the leakage protection. The underwear protection is also particularly important, ensuring that the clothing, sitting or lying area of the affected person remains dry. Various types of film are used for laundry protection, from the conventional smooth film to more breathable versions. Today’s foils, unlike earlier ones, have become thinner and softer, eliminating the rustling noise that is unpleasant for users. Wetness indicators ensure that a necessary change of the incontinence pad is indicated in good time. It is now also usually found in baby diapers. Either adhesive dots in the briefs or adhesive or Velcro fasteners are used for fixation. In one-piece systems such as briefs, they can be omitted because these are automatically fixed in place. Modern incontinence hygiene is no longer imaginable without superabsorbents. Granules measuring 0.1 to 0.8 mm ensure that moisture is bound and the granules swell when they come into contact with liquid, thus holding it better inside the pad.
Medical and health benefits
For people who suffer from incontinence problems, modern incontinence hygiene products are a real blessing, as they enable them to live a largely normal life without major restrictions despite these problems.Despite comprehensive health education, incontinence is still a taboo subject for many people and considerably restricts the quality of life of those affected. Modern incontinence products, which have become thinner, easier to handle and more comfortable to wear over time, make life much easier for both sufferers and caregivers. They offer good leakage protection, high wearing comfort and odor protection. In nursing homes, the use of modern incontinence products helps keep infections in check. In addition, changing bedridden people has become easier and saves time in cleaning and hygiene measures. In addition, the use of incontinence products ensures that laundry, bedding and mattresses are protected, but also that the skin of those affected by incontinence is better protected. It would become sore from constant contact with urine and/or feces and could become inflamed more easily. Thanks to the good leakage protection, people with mild or moderate incontinence who are still mobile and adventurous can live their lives with almost no significant restrictions. As more and more people grow older, the need for incontinence products will increase in the future. In order not to make life financially difficult for people with incontinence due to regular additional costs, the costs for incontinence products are covered by health insurance companies. However, the type and extent of reimbursement can vary among different health insurance companies, and some patients have to pay a co-payment for an individual supply that meets their needs.
