Incontinence Management Products: What to Use When

The number of absorbent product choices on the market can make it a challenge to find the perfect fit for your residents. We created the chart below to help!

Keep in mind that CMS recommends considering the severity of incontinence, gender, fit and ease of use when selecting an absorbent product. The agency notes that the benefits of these products include containing urine, providing protection for clothing and preserving residents’ dignity and comfort.1

Briefs 

Absorbency: Moderate to Ultimate

Good for: Bedridden residents, overnight use, heavy to complete urinary incontinence. bowel incontinence

Pull-Ups

Absorbency: Super to Ultimate

Good for: Ambulatory residents, light to severe urinary incontinence, bowel incontinence 

Pads and Male Guards 

Absorbency: Light to Ultimate 

Good for: Added absorbency inside regular undergarments or pull-ups, used as a system with reusable pants 

Liners

Absorbency: Moderate to Ultimate

Good for: Moderate to severe urinary output, bedridden residents, ambulatory residents 

Belted Undergarments

Absorbency: Light to Heavy 

Good for: Occasional accidents. frequent changes 

Underpads 

Absorbency: Moderate to Ultimate

Good for: Open airing, bed and furniture protection 

To learn more about our complete line of incontinence management products, contact your ProMed territory manager, give us a call at 800.648.5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com. 

Reference

1 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. State Operations Manual. Appendix PP – Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities (Rev. 133, 02-06-15). Available at: http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107ap_pp_guidelines_ltcf.pdf. Accessed March 31, 2015. 

Match Your Residents with the Right Incontinence Products

The sheer volume of incontinence management products on the market can make it a challenge to find the perfect fit for your residents. We’ve put together the following chart to help make it easier for you. Keep in mind that CMS recommends considering incontinence, gender, fit and ease of use when selecting an absorbent product.¹

Type of Product	Absorbency	Good For
Briefs	Moderate-Ultimate	·        Bedridden residents       ·        Overnight use       ·        Heavy to complete     urinary incontinence       ·        Bowel incontinence
Pull-Ups	Super-Ultimate	·        Ambulatory residents       ·        Light to severe     urinary incontinence       ·        Bowel  incontinence
Pads and male guards	Moderate-Ultimate	·        Added absorbency inside     regular undergarment     or pull-ups       ·        Used as a system with     reusable pants
Liners	Moderate-Ultimate	·        Moderate to severe     urinary output       ·        Bedridden residents       ·        Ambulatory residents
Belted undergarments	Light-Heavy	·        Occasional accidents       ·        Frequent changes
Underpads	Moderate-Ultimate	·        Open airing       ·        Bed and furniture protection

ProMed recently made a number of upgrades to our incontinence management products to benefit both the resident and the caregiver. Our Embrace™ Adult Skin Caring Underwear with Leakage Barrier now features a comfort stretch panel that hugs the body like real underwear, creating a comfortable, dignified wearing experience. Additionally, our Embrace™ Adult Skin Caring Underwear is now packaged in 100-count cases to save valuable storeroom space and reduce ordering frequency. Both of these products also have updated packaging.

We’ll soon be introducing the Embrace™ Skin Caring Stretch FlexRight Brief, which has a fully breathable stretch panel that creates a natural, discreet fit and moves with the resident. These briefs have standardized sizing that allows you to stock fewer products, freeing up valuable storage space and saving caregiver time. Be sure to watch LTC Connection for future announcements on this product!

To learn more about our complete line of incontinence management products, contact your ProMed territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

Reference

1 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. State Operations Manual. Appendix PP – Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities (Rev. 70, 01-07-11). Available at: http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107ap_pp_guidelines_ltcf.pdf. Accessed October 10

FDA Okays Botox as Treatment for Overactive Bladder

The FDA has approved Botox as an effective treatment for overactive bladder after two clinical trials involving more than 1,100 patients.

During the studies, participants whose bladder muscles were injected with Botox experienced between 1.6 and 1.9 times fewer daily episodes of incontinence compared to those who received the placebo injection. Those who received the Botox injections also had less frequent urges to urinate and produced more urine than the placebo group.

The Botox injections relax the bladder muscle, increasing the bladder's storage capacity.

To learn more, click here.

Botox, Oral Drugs Both Effective in Treating Incontinence in Women

Researchers at Loyola University in Chicago have found that both Botox injections and oral drugs known as anticholinergics are effective in reducing urinary incontinence in women.

Women in the study were divided into two groups. One group received Botox injections in their bladders as well as a placebo pill. The other group received a daily oral anticholinergic. On average, the women who were treated with Botox reduced the daily frequency of their incontinence episodes by 3.3 For the anticholinergic group, this figure was 3.4. Overall, 27 percent of women who received the Botox treatment and 13 percent of the women taking the anticholinergics saw their symptoms resolve completely.

Both groups also reported quality of life improvements.

To learn more, click here.

Eating to Combat Overactive Bladder

For people with overactive bladder (OAB), what they eat can be directly tied to how many trips to the bathroom they make.

The following foods and drinks can irritate the bladder, contributing to urine leaks (please note that not all people will be sensitive to all items):

• Alcoholic beverages
• Carbonated beverages
• Caffeinated drinks (such as soda and hot cocoa)
• Drinks containing artificial sweeteners
• Coffee (both regular and decaffeinated)
• Tomatoes and tomato-containing products (such as marinara sauce)
• Citrus fruits and juices
• Highly spiced foods
• Corn syrup
• Honey
• Chocolate

Other tips for managing the symptoms of OAB:

• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Including fiber, such as fruits, veggies and whole grains (this helps prevent constipation, which can worsen OAB)
• Drinking just the right amount of fluids - not too much, and not too little (around six glasses a day) - water is ideal, but cranberry, grape, cherry and apple juices are also gentle on the bladder

To learn more, click here.