How Incontinence Products Are Like Shrimp

July 25, 2018

How Incontinence Products Are Like Shrimp

Pull-On Underwear, Boxers, Adjustable Underwear, Briefs, Pads, Guards...


Do you remember the movie Forrest Gump when he’s in the military with Bubba (the wanna be shrimp boat captain) and they are on their knees scrubbing the floor with toothbrushes and Bubba is telling Forrest about all the different ways you can prepare shrimp:


“You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, peppershrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich”.

Incontinence products are just like shrimp. There’s pull-on underwear for men, for women, for either; there’s boxers for men, adjustable underwear, briefs (adult diapers), pads for women, liners, guards for men, shields for men, underpads, undergarments, booster pads, swim pants, washable products, shaped pads, and soon bladder control inserts.  


Confusion Reigns

If you are looking for incontinence products for yourself or for a loved one in your care it can be impossible to determine exactly what style you should be using. There are so many choices it can seem overwhelming. This has led many consumers to use the “trial and error” method but this can be costly, time consuming and even more frustrating. Paying for a more absorbent and therefore more costly incontinence product is wasteful. It is important to note by understanding a few facts about incontinence you can have a better understanding of exactly what incontinence products will work for your needs or for the person whom you are caring for. 

What's the best product for me or my loved one?

It can be overwhelming to try and determine exactly what incontinence supplies you or the loved one in your care may need. There are more choices than ever before and they’re changing all the time. This creates more confusion. The Caregiver Partnership understands this and have created an easy to use style guide that explains all the style options that can help you determine what incontinence products are right for you. You can call and speak with one of their knowledgeable ladies as well 800-985-1353.
Before you make a selection of incontinence supplies it can be very helpful to keep a voiding diary. A voiding diary is a useful tool. You can write down some important information like the total number of visits in the toilet, frequency of urine loss episodes, and other information, which can help you to determine the level and kind of incontinence you are dealing with. Once you have this information then you will be able to see a pattern emerge as to when incontinence products are needed and what absorbency would work best at any particular time of the day or night. However, there are other factors which should be considered as well when viewing the voiding diary. Here are 3 of them-

    • How mobile is the person with incontinence? If you are the caregiver for someone who has limited mobility then you may want to consider using a heavier absorbency in a brief or adjustable pull-on underwear. If getting to the toilet is difficult then a heavier incontinence product can protect them better if they are not able to reach a bathroom in time. If someone is experiencing incontinence who is very active and able to quickly reach a bathroom then they may not need as an absorbent incontinence product since they can reach a bathroom in time to void and/or change their incontinence supplies without fear of leakage or accidents. 
    • How much fluid is being taken in? If the person with incontinence takes in a lot of fluid during the day then they will need a much more absorbent incontinence product then someone who does not. Keep in mind fluid means more than just water or other drinks. Soups, broths or anything highly liquid contribute to the amount of urine which is made. This should be considered when choosing the absorbency for an incontinence product. 
    • What is the amount of urine loss? There are charts which indicate the amount of urine loss as it relates to incontinence. With 50 ml of urine loss considered light incontinence up to 300 ml of urine loss being considered very heavy. Corresponding absorbencies should be chosen when selecting incontinence supplies. 

Get real help from real people.  

Since 2004, The Caregiver Partnership has been helping people just like you. Unlike the big box stores which usually only offer 3 brands of incontinence products, The CareGiver Partnershipshops the world over to find the best incontinence products - those used by consumers and professionals alike. We offer over 733 choices. Ten times more brands, styles, sizes and absorbencies than even the big box stores. And, we have knowledgeable Product Specialists you can speak with when you call 1-800-985-1353.

However, even when you have an idea of what incontinence products you are looking for it can still be overwhelming. That’s why the free & easy Incontinence Product Finder was developed. It saves you time, money and frustration by making it easy to sort through hundreds of products - fast. The video below explains how it works.


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