Choosing the Right Incontinence Products: A Guide for Caregivers

Caregiving can be stressful, but knowing how to choose the right incontinence products can ease the burden of incontinence care. With so many products on the market, it's normal to feel confused and unsure where to start. Your loved one deserves the best, after all!

Don't worry, your answers are here. Our incontinence product guide walks you through everything you need to know to choose the best incontinence products for the elderly.

Urinary incontinence means your loved one may experience unexpected leaks throughout the day.¹ There are several types of urinary incontinence, including:¹

Stress incontinence

When your loved one's pelvic floor is weak, added pressure from laughing, sneezing, or coughing could cause leaks.¹

Urge incontinence

You may notice your loved one experiencing an intense, sudden urge to urinate, but they may not reach the bathroom in time.¹

Overflow incontinence

It happens when your loved one's bladder doesn't empty fully when they pee, causing leaks when it's full.¹

Functional incontinence

Leaks occur because of other conditions that affect your loved one's brain and mobility.¹ These conditions make it harder for them to reach the bathroom on time.¹ 

Knowing the type of incontinence your loved one has is important when choosing incontinence products.² Each type has its own absorbency needs.² For example, stress incontinence will need a different absorbency than urge or overflow.² 

A healthcare provider can help identify the type of incontinence your loved one has, so you can choose the best products. Curious to learn more about the types of incontinence? We’ve got the info you need.

When you’re shopping for incontinence products, here are some factors to consider to help you choose the right product for your loved one:

Absorbency needs

Incontinence products have different absorbent levels: light, moderate, and heavy.3 It’s important to pick the absorbency levels that matches the type of incontinence,2 because it helps prevent how often your loved one's skin gets exposed to urine.³

Here is a guide to help you as you shop:

• Stress incontinence: Your loved one will need products with light absorbency levels. Pads, liners and shields are often a good fit.³
• Urge incontinence: Moderate to heavy absorbency levels work best here.³ Protective underwear, guards, and adult briefs or diapers are good options.³
• Functional incontinence: Your loved one will need products with moderate to heavy absorbency levels.³ For example, protective underwear for women or protective underwear for men.³
• Overflow incontinence: Your loved one will need products for incontinence without awareness, like TENA ProSkin Stretch Ultra Briefs.³

Daytime vs nighttime use

While your loved one sleeps, they pee more than they do during the day.³ That's why you should consider using nighttime products like adult briefs to give them a restful night and other protective products during the day.³

Skin sensitivity and breathability

Products that are breathable and skin sensitive help protect your loved one from irritations and skin breakdown.³

For your loved one's skin health, choose products that are:³

• Breathable
• High quality
• Have the highest absorbency level

Also, consider using protective skincare products that help protect your loved one's skin health3 together with incontinence products.

Gender specific options

Manufacturers design incontinence products with your loved one’s anatomy, lifestyle, and discretion in mind.³ Some examples of gender-specific products include:

• Incontinence products for men like male guards.
• Incontinence products for women like pads.
• Unisex incontinence products like protective underwear.

Mobility

If your loved one is bedridden or semi-mobile, they may need incontinence products with extra supports like the all-in-one incontinence brief.3 While this product offers protection, comfort, and confidence, it is not suitable for those who are active.³

There are different types of incontinence products. Here are some explained:

• Absorbent pads and liners: These products look like feminine hygiene products.³ They are easy to remove when your loved one needs to pee and are usually attached to their underwear.³
• Protective underwear or pull ups : They look and fit like regular underwear.³ They sometimes have a wetness indicator to let you know when your loved one needs a change.³
• Adult briefs or diapers: These diaper-like incontinence products are easy to apply.³ They also have wetness indicators, allowing for prompt changes.³
• Bed pads or under pads: You can lay them on surfaces like beds.³ Their waterproof linings help protect these surfaces from leaks.³
• Catheter: Your loved one's doctors may recommend a catheter if other options aren’t working.4 They need regular care to prevent complications.⁴

Tip: Always choose an absorbency level (the amount of urine that the product can absorb) based on how incontinent your loved one is. The absorbency is often shown on the pack as drops: the more drops there are, the more absorbent the product. If you’re not sure which level to buy, check with your doctor or another healthcare professional.

Picking the right sized product is important to protect your loved one from leaks, skin breakdown, and discomfort.³

Here are some tips to help while you measure your loved one for the correct size:

• Have your loved one remove any clothing before measuring for the most accurate fit.
• Place the tape around their waist and note down the size.
• Make sure your loved one's feet are together when measuring their hips
• When measuring their hips, use the widest part of the hips.
• Compare your measurements to the size chart to determine the best fit.

Different incontinence products cater to various lifestyles and needs. Here are a few examples of incontinence products that fit diverse needs:³

• For active adults: Protective underwear
• For trips: Protective underwear
• For bedridden adults: All-in-one incontinence briefs
• For overnight use: Adult diapers or protective underwear

To help you choose, you can also consider their physical condition and the level of support they need from you:

• They need a little assistance 
• They need a lot of assistance 
• They have mental health challenges

TENA products come with unique features to support your loved one’s comfort and skin health. These include:

• Super absorbent core
• Odor control
• Skin care technology built in

Two excellent product options are TENA ProSkin and TENA Sensitive Care. Although the Skin Health Alliance endorses both pads, they support different needs:

TENA ProSkin

• Feature a Dry-Fast Dual Core to keep skin dry.
• Have side gathers for a better fit.
• Best for light leaks.

TENA Sensitive Care

• Use DuoLock cores to lock in moisture.
• Feature cushiony foam side barriers for comfort.
• Ideal for moderate to heavy leaks during the day or night.

Caregiver Tips for Product Trials and Switching

Worried about making costly mistakes when choosing products? That's where sample programs come in; they allow you to try the products in smaller quantities before committing to a full pack.

While sampling, here are some signs that it might be time to try another product:³

• Leaks
• Skin irritations
• Skin infections
• Odors
• Discomfort

It may take some time to find the right one, and this constant change can be frustrating for your loved one. The best way to deal with this is to communicate effectively. Calmly explain to them the benefits of a product that fits, and listen to their concerns.

Tip: Find the right product size. Size is important for comfort and leakage security. Too big of a product means a big risk of leakage since it will not fit correctly. Similar to clothing, incontinence products are available in different sizes. Check with your doctor or another healthcare professional if you’re not sure of your loved one’s size. Or try different sizes.

What are the Most Absorbent Incontinence Products?

Adult diapers or briefs offer the most absorbent protection.³ They help keep your loved one dry and comfortable during the night or when managing heavy leaks.³

How Do I Choose the Right Size Adult Diaper?

One of the best ways to find the right size is to measure your loved one’s waist and hips, then compare the measurements to the incontinence product sizing guide.

Can Men and Women Use the Same Incontinence Products?

There are pads that fit men and women differently like perineal pads and guards. You can't use this type for both genders, but they are also unisex options, like protective underwear. Your loved one can wear them, regardless of their gender.