Sleep Well - Better Continence Care at Night

Posted on

Jan 22, 2021

Uninterrupted sleep is important for overall good health. Sleep is worth taking care of as it is restorative provided that one has at least 5 hours of undisturbed nightly sleep.
People with incontinence are often woken several times throughout the night to have soiled underwear and/or soiled briefs changed. Their bedding is often wet and needs to be changed nightly too. Can you imagine how you would feel if you were woken 3 to 4 times each night?
Uninterrupted nighttime sleep for incontinent people is achievable with a better understanding of the incontinence products available, which supplies to use, and when to use them.
Understanding Incontinence Products
Nighttime is especially challenging for incontinent people and their caregivers. Most products that are sufficient for day use are not sufficient for night use. For some people it may be enough to choose the same type of incontinence product, but of higher absorbent capacity. Others should use a different type of absorbent product altogether for better outcomes. Using the correct incontinence products are beneficial to both the care recipient and the caregiver. Incontinence products can include underwear, briefs, pads, liners, man guards, and underpads.
Many manufacturers offer incontinence products in a range of absorbencies. Sometimes recommended nighttime incontinence products are labeled with the word night on the packaging. Typically, incontinence levels will range from light/moderate to heavy/severe. Incontinence product absorbency options will coincide with these levels.
A super absorbent night product should be used to aid in uninterrupted nighttime sleep. A misconception is to use a larger size product at night because unfortunately some people believe that a larger size product equates to higher absorbency levels. This is misleading as it is critical to wear the correct product size to maximize effectiveness and minimize skin breakdown and leakage.
Product Types
Since the body position is typically different at night versus day, some incontinence products may not be appropriate for nighttime use. For example, underwear and pads are great options for daytime, however, they may not be the best option for nighttime. The surface of their absorbent core is smaller so a person who tosses/turns during the night may experience leakage issues. It is important to understand that certain pads or underwear that are deemed effective during the day may not work at night. Briefs may be a better option for night for individuals who sleep on their backs.
For side sleepers, shaped pads may be a better option to prevent leakage. Shaped pads are bigger than regular bladder control pads and their absorbent capacity is similar to briefs. Their advantage over briefs, for side sleepers, is that they do not have closing tabs and so the absorbent core may be moved to any side to adjust it to the body position to reduce leakage. Shaped pads are held in place with washable supporting underpants.
To minimize skin breakdowns, it is recommended to use vapor permeable products (100% breathable). Choosing a high quality soft, comfortable, and effective product is critical.
This article was submitted by Deanna Vigliotta, TZMO USA INC. Deanna can be reached at 850-503-7534 or deannavigliotta@tzmousa.com or visit www.seni-usa.com

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