Incontinence Specialist
Gary Hirsch realized the need to design and produce quality incontinence care products during...read more
- Adult Diaper Disposal: Environmental Awareness
- Final Words of Wisdom: Buying Adult Diapers Online
- Buyer Beware: Tips for Buying Incontinence Products Online
- Deciphering Adult Diapers from Protective Underwear from Briefs
- Adult Diapers: Pads, Liners, Inserts & Guards—Oh My!
- Disambiguation Part 1: Adult Diapers vs. Adult Briefs
- Disambiguation Part 2: Deciphering the Incontinence Care Product Aisle
- Let’s Talk Diapers: What Goes Into an Adult Brief?
- How Long Should a Longer-Lasting Adult Diaper Last?
- Managing Incontinence: Your Guide to Personal Comfort
Incontinence
How Long Should a Longer-Lasting Adult Diaper Last?
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In my first post in this corner, I mentioned that I want to use this space to analyze the way that adult incontinence care products are used in a practical setting. Let’s begin that examination now, and I’ll continue it over the series of the next few posts.
In my years as a designer of quality adult incontinence undergarments, I’ve seen a lot of designs for products, both of my own creation and those from other companies. Each time I analyze a design, I try to keep in mind this question: “How will the user of this product feel during and after its use?”
All too often in the United States, we see the product design mantra of “cheaper, faster, better,” and with adult incontinence care undergarments, there is no exception to that production mindset. Many manufacturers try to crank out “cheap” products that will work for 4–6 hours and then must be changed and re-applied. This causes for lots of turnover in product, which, from a manufacturer’s perspective, can be a positive thing. However, as an incontinent individual—or someone providing care for them—these lesser-performing products can be a huge hassle.
With my most recent product design, the Secure X-Plus Adult Undergarments, I have aimed for quite a different standard in caregiving, one that is perhaps employed more often by Europeans than Americans. The European mindset seems to be that 8–12 hour briefs, products that will last a user well through the day and even overnight, are the best options for caring for an incontinent individual.
I couldn’t agree more. As an incontinent individual, why would you want to change a protective undergarment every few hours? As a caregiver, why would you want to wake your loved one or patient every 4 hours during the night to check their undergarment? With a switch from what I’ve labeled as “lesser-performing” briefs to those that last longer and are better in quality, your caregiving perspective will also greatly shift. Let’s examine these key points:
Product design
In a more absorbent, longer-lasting brief, more Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) is used. This ensures that the brief can withstand multiple wettings of varying amounts. Therefore, the product has to be changed less frequently and can still be worn comfortably after 1 or 2 wettings without the brief feeling full or wet to the touch. Moreover, this means that you’re less likely to have a leaky brief, so your clothing and furniture are even more protected than when using a lesser-performing brief.
Cost savings
Even though longer lasting briefs like the Secure X-Plus, or those made by European companies like Molicare, Abena and Tena tend to cost more per brief, their overall usage will actually save you money. If during the course of any given day you’re using 6 “cheap” briefs that cost you 60 cents each and you replace them with 2 longer-lasting briefs that cost $1.50 each, you’re actually saving a total of 60 cents per day. Over the course of a month, that equals $18, and in a year, you’re looking at a total savings of over $200.
More comfort
This point is especially important for those caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Oftentimes in managed care facilities, patients suffering from Alzheimer’s will be woken every 3–4 hours during the night to have their incontinence undergarments checked for soiling. This causes distress to the patient, of course, and creates sometimes unnecessary work for the caregiver. With a more absorbent, longer-lasting quality brief, the patient and caregiver can rest assured that the garment will work the whole night through.
Environmental impact
By using fewer briefs per day, you’re disposing of about 66% less plastic and non-woven material than before (based on the assumed use of 2 briefs per day rather than 6). This is an important factor to consider as the world’s landfill space gets more and more full. In my coming posts, I’ll also mention the use of cloth diapers—another landfill-saving technique to properly take care of incontinence.
Though my ideas for may go against the grain here in the United States, I think they are slowly catching on. For one, I’ve seen sales of our longer-lasting briefs and protective underwear rise steadily over the past few years. Beyond that, I believe that people will opt for longer-lasting products when they realize that they may offer more comfort and ease of use than the currently utilized products that are present on the market.
What are your thoughts? How have longer-lasting incontinence care products helped you or a loved one?
Your Partner in Comfort,
Gary Hirsch
Learn everything about adult diapers by visiting Everything About Incontinence. |
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Gary is an adviser to online incontinence care products provider SecurePersonalCare.com. |
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Posted in Everything about Incontinence, Incontinence, Incontinence: Gary Hirsch
Hi Gary,
I havea question about adult diapers. If someone’s wearing the same one for 12 hours, I’m guessing they’re gonna have the same problem babies get, diaper rash. Is there a certain cream they should use to prevent that from happening? Also, doesn’t it feel gross to be sitting in the same diaper for that long? I mean, it suonds nice not to have to change it, but it can’t feel nice to sit in it.
Hi Lizzy,
Thanks for the great questions!
Indeed a lot of incontinent adults do get diaper rash, and for that I recommend the same cure as baby diaper rash: proper skin care before and after wearing a diaper.
No matter how long-lasting of a brief the person may be using, if they are not carefully washing their diapered parts with soap and water in order to dilute the bodily waste that has come in contact with the skin, then they are prone to getting annoying rashes. Adding care creams will only help re-moisturizing the skin to further prevent rashes as well.
With regards to remaining in a long-lasting brief once it has been soiled, I would mention that some of these briefs are designed to absorb voided materials instantly, and they contain lots of Super Absorbent Polymer which turns liquid into gel almost on contact. That allows for a user to comfortably wear a brief for 8 to 12 hours without even feeling a thing! The liquid simply wicks away from the body, gets trapped by the Polymer and turned into a gel, allowing the user to stay dry and comfortable.
Obviously, no one wants to sit in a dirtied diaper for long, but with longer-lasting briefs like the Secure X-Plus that contain heavy amounts of Polymer, it is possible to have comfortable and sanitary care for long periods - even overnight.
I hope this answers your questions, and if not, please let me know!
Your Partner in Comfort,
Gary
I’ve tried the Secure XPlus, and my only significant problem with them is lack of wick speed. The overall absorbency as compared with Abriform XPlus (which I get from the VA) is just alittle less, but the speed at which it absorbs is significantly slower, and thus seems to generate a great deal more leakage particularly at night.
Are you planning any time in the future on making a version specifically for nighttime use, targeting in particular those of us that have to roll at night to prevent pressure sores and thus spend a great deal of time laying on our sides (the worse position for generating leaks!). That sort of product would be one that it would again be worth getting something added to the VA formulary just to get (as I got them to add first the Molicare Super and then later the Abriform X-Plus).
Patients at the SCI center can get about any product they want, but first getting something added to the formulary is a non-trivial operation. I’d like it to be made worthwhile.
-Steve
I hope Secure Care will resist the apparent trend to “cloth-like” outer covers, and maintain the much more effective plastic film cover. Every “cloth-like” diaper I’ve used (and I’m in em 24/7) has had a terrible tendency to leak and to wick urine to my clothes. The problem is much less common with the plastic film diapers.
I’m a spinal cord injured individual. A main reason I like diapers like Attends, besides the great fit, is the plastic type covers. I’m glad to read Secure Care uses a similar cover. The smooth plastic provides a reduced friction diaper, and this is VERY important when transferring or turning in bed. Diapers with cloth like covers have friction on the bed sheets, which pulls them crooked and loose on ones body during the overnight. This means leaks!
Hi there all, and thanks for the comments! Since most of these comments are product-specific to Secure brand products, let me address them one by one:
Steve: We’ll be coming out with a Secure X-Plus Overnight Protective Underwear (pull-on) product in the next week or two. Watch our incontinence care products lineup on our website to try that product. We’re pretty confident that it’ll suit your needs for absorbency, wicking, and overnight use.
Brew: Our Secure X-Plus Briefs are made - like a lot of the more popular, longer-lasting briefs on the market - with a plastic-backing to ensure maximum containment and to guard against leakage. On the other hand, the aforementioned Overnight Protective Underwear we’re launching soon will feature a cloth-like backing — and, as I said above, we’re very confident that it too will maintain maximum absorbency and protect clothing, furniture and more from leakage.
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John: I feel like a broken record, but, the new Overnight Protective Underwear we’re about to launch will have lots of elastic in them to ensure a snug fit. Most of the popular cloth-like-backed products on the market feature this as well - I’d recommend looking for one that is on the smaller side and has standing leg cuffs to ensure the most snug fit possible.
To all: Again, thanks for the excellent comments about our Secure (not Secure Care!) product line - I appreciate them! All in all, your comments illustrate to me a need to address the finer points of actual adult brief manufacturing - what is the difference in performance between plastic- and cloth-like backing? What do transfer materials do, and how do they help in the wicking process? How can inserts (diaper-doublers) help during the nighttime? These questions - and more - will be addressed in my future posts here in this corner. Until then, many thanks!
Your Partner in Comfort,
Gary
Unfortunately pull on garments do not work with severe neurological impairments, particularly with adults, due to the difficulty, and often pain, of trying to get them over spastic or atrophied legs.
Oh, and cloth backing, TERRIBLY idea, makes it MUCH harder for someone with limited mobility in bed to move without the extra drag being a hinderance or tearing the brief off. I tried the Abri Air Plus and they simply didn’t make the cut. Not only does the process not give much heat relief benefit, but it hinders what little mobility a person might have.
-Steve
I have to wonder how these feel. there are a few things you folks could learn fro baby diapers. like leak guards. i have yet to find a adult diaper with a leak guard like the one found on the baby diapers.
feeling of the inner material is also important, some feel sticky, some just rough. they should feel like a tee-shirt inside, that would be ideal.
[…] Most briefs are also made with a transfer material in the inner core. This product ensures fast wicking and allows liquid to be transferred quickly to the SAP crystals for maximum absorbency. Transfer materials are one of the design features that also keep adult briefs from bunching up. Often times when a longer-lasting brief is used for long periods of time, the absorbent material and fluff can clump, making the wearer uncomfortable. Transfer materials can help defray clumping and bunching by evenly spreading fluid throughout the brief. […]
I am a paraplegic and have been wearing adult diapers for 20 years and DESPISE the cloth backings that have become fashionable over the last few years. The are far less comfortable, more difficult to put on and change and not nearly as protective regardless of what the manufacturer claims. I reject the idea that an adult diaper should look less like a diaper (which is exactly what it is)..there is nothing wrong with someone wearing diapers who has to, and its time for society and those who must wear such garments to accept that fact.
Hi Craig,
Thanks so much for your note - I appreciate it. You bring up two good points:
1) We in the design and manufacturing marketplace need to address the stigma around the look and feel of adult briefs and diapers. They are indeed diapers - and, as you mention, there is nothing wrong with this. I might point out a great organization: The Simon Foundation’s ‘Defeating Stigma’ Campaign. They’re doing great things to take away the stigma of adult incontinence and diapers. I’ll talk more about them, and this topic, in future posts.
2) Backing - as I point out in this post, there are a few types of backing material. Our new X-Plus Overnight Protective Underwear uses the clothlike backing whereas the plastic-backed X-Plus Tape-On Briefs we’ve had on the market for a few months do not. Both products and backings are useful for different people, and if the clothlike doesn’t fit well for you, I recommend trying the plastic-backed briefs — you’ll like their feel a bunch more.
Thanks again for the great feedback!
Your Partner in Comfort,
Gary
i think that they should even call them
what they are adult diapers.
there is nothing wearing diapers if you need to or not .
Hi Joe,
That’s a great point. Please see my most recent blog post in this corner that talks about just that - “adult diapers vs. adult briefs.”
You can click here to get there:
http://www.gilbertguide.com/blog/2007/05/29/disambiguation-part-i-adult-diapers-vs-adult-briefs/
[…] We can all thank a guy named Gary Hirsch, a self-described “incontinence specialist,” for helping make adult diapers available in your supermarket. He’s spent aboutg 30 years designing the things. He’s also written several articles on the subject (including “Let’s Talk Diapers: What Goes Into an Adult Brief?”; “How Long Should a Longer-Lasting Adult Diaper Last?”; and “Managing Incontinence: Your Guide to Personal Comfort”) for the online Gilbert Guide. Take a look at his articles. […]
I have tried pull ups numerous times and each one had the same defect, that being leaking around the leg area. Such was the case with the secure overnight pull up. I also found that the wicking area is not suitable for males as the area was far to small and did not go to the sides and upward nearly far enough. I could not even use them for daytime protection for this very reason. The thought was good, however the design still remains faulty as with all pull on designs of briefs.
I’m a paraplegic and use adult-briefs. I too do not like the trend that brought about the “cloth” backing.
I’d like to see a brief with good leak guards around the legs, and lots of elastic around the waist. Plus lots of absorbency.
I lead a fairly active lifestyle and don’t have time to “change my diaper” every few hours. The extra cost of the “better” diapers is well worth it.
I forgot to add:
Three tapes per side are a must. Crawling in and out of my chair puts a strain on the tapes. It’s awful to have them pop open.
Hello Blaine and Robert,
Great comments - thank you. You both bring up great points with regards to brief and pull-on underwear construction. I think you’d really enjoy the new Secure X-Plus Briefs. They feature two tapes per side that are incredibly strong, so there’s no having to worry about broken tapes or leaky briefs.
Please keep the comments coming!
In looking at the Secure website, whether I click on Secure X-Plus or Secure X-Plus Overnight, (from the product finder page) I am directed to the same model number. How can I differentiate between plastic backed and cloth backed brief? (ref. your response May 14 to Craig, post #12) (SR97033, med)
Hello Ted,
Thanks for your comment, and I am sorry for the confusion. There are two different products in the X-Plus Product category.
The X-Plus Tape-On Briefs feature two re-fastenable tapes per side and plastic backing. Their product number is SR97033 - you can find them here: http://www.securepersonalcare.com/xplus-briefs.html
The X-Plus Overnight Protective Underwear is a pull-on style product. This product features elastic waistbands and a cloth-like backing. Its product number is SR99133 - you can find them here: http://www.securepersonalcare.com/xplus-protective-underwear.html
Thanks!
Your Partner in Comfort,
Gary
MY mother is 78, obese and currently bedridden at home. We have samples from almost every brief on the market and the ones that fit around the waist are too big or up too high in the leg and leak. Any suggestions for making her more comfortable? ARE there “long leg” briefs? SHe HATES when they leak. She uses two bed pads at a time, but they are uncomfortable when they get damp.
Hello Kelly, and thanks for your message!
While there are no “long leg” briefs per se, there are some things that can be done to make your mother more comfortable:
1) I am not sure what briefs you’re currently trying, but take a look at specialty medical stores (or shop online) for Bariatric Briefs or the “X-Plus” style briefs that are highly absorbent. These two types of briefs are best for heavy absorbency needs, and they can be boosted with a “diaper doubler” or insert pad (see my SR900 More-Dry pad for an example). Ensuring that your selected brief has standing leg cuffs will ensure that she doesn’t have as many leakage problems, as well.
2) Using a highly absorbent bed pad is helpful as well - I suggest either disposable or re-usable pads with heavy-duty soakers.
3) My next post will discuss some of the best features of briefs and protective underwear, and I invite you to read that next week, and of course ask any other questions! Ultimately, the question of leakage is based on two factors: amount voided and absorbency of the brief. I’ll address this issue, as well, in my next post.
Thanks again!
Your Partner in Comfort,
Gary
I see your product in GoodWill Stores. Is this a over run arrangement, discontinued stock, outdated stock? What is is, and why is it there? The reason I ask, is because there is only one ‘flavor’ “Medium”, and just the secure. If you are going to market there, you need all the sizes, especially large! Also, daytime use is covered by many! It’s the overnight maximum that needs to be addressed! I have used Abena… the ones rated for overnight, and they are incredible… please don’t delete, but I would love to try your secure X overnight, but can’t find them anywhere, and I really only have the chance to get to my local Goodwill, and I would never buy online! That store in Eastpoint Maryland could sell 1000,’s of packs each month.. only if the large were available!
Thanks,
Jason
Hello Jason,
Thanks for your comment. As of right now, my Secure X-Plus is only available via the website http://www.securepersonalcare.com. From that website, you’re welcome to email them with more specific info about your location and needs and I’ll see what we can’t do about getting you our other Secure diapers in Large size shipped to where you are.
Thanks!
Your Partner in Comfort,
Gary
Why dont more diaper manufacturers use 3 tapes per side. I use diapers 24/7 and because of that, Ive tried every diaper on the market. Ive tried abena, molicare, secure, attends depends and many more. I use attends 10 with waistband because its the best 3 tape diaper. I would use secure if it had 3 tapes per side. The fit is one of the most important things to us diaper wearers. Please make a diaper with 3 tapes per side. Thanks
Hello Andrew,
Thanks for your comment. I’ve seen many of the three tape-design diapers, and, to be honest, I am not convinced they will hold any better than my two refastenable tapes will. Frankly speaking, when Kimberly-Clark launched their 3 tape design, it seemed to me to be more of a marketing ploy that a product upgrade. Two refastenable tapes and a strong frontal landing zone - something the Secure Plus and Secure X-Plus diapers are known for - ensure a strong hold and easy refastenability. The KC diapers use smaller tapes that adhere directly to the diaper plastic, which means no refastenability without pulling off some of the backing plastic, and which also leads to awkward placement of the tapes on the diaper. That all being said, I don’t think that you’ll see any of the Secure brand of products outfitted with three tapes anytime soon.
However, you bring up a great point that I want to stress: each individual is different, and the fit of a product on one is very different from the fit on another. Your fondness for the three tapes is an example of just this, and while I may not be so fond of them, there are many others like you who are!
Thanks again for your comment.
Your Partner in Comfort,
Gary
I am a caregiver for a 92yr old male. He wears diapers day and night. He uses a urinal during day, but at night he will not keep the diaper on. He takes it off and urninates in bed 2 and 3 times a night. Any suggestions?
Tape the diaper on backwards, I had an aide that used to watch me used to do that when I got sick and got confused. I was new to my disability then and sometimes would do the same, and since I was usually at low energy when that happened taping it on so the tapes were behind me put them “out of sight out of mind”.
If he’s violently pulling on it then you might need to use a bodystocking, or adult one piece garment to keep him from pulling at it. I don’t so much have that problem as if I’m confused then I’m usually not able to move around much.
I STILL haven’t found a good adult diaper for those of us confined to bed or wheelchairs yet, they’re all for people still walking it seems, but at least your problem is fairly easily solved
-Steve
Steve-
Look for a diaper that has inner leg gathers/leak guards. (Like the ones baby diapers have.)
You’d be surprised how much those help.
“Gary Hirsch Says:
September 10th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Hello Andrew,
Thanks for your comment. I’ve seen many of the three tape-design diapers, and, to be honest, I am not convinced they will hold any better than my two refastenable tapes will.”
I would then suggest to at least place the bottom tapes an inch lower. I find that w/ the Secure X-Plus there a gaps between the leg cuffs and my groin by morning. I move a lot in my sleep, so even though they were snug when I fell asleep, theres a leaky gap forming over night.
Attends 6-tape holds nice and snug in the leg cuff area overnight much better due to what I described, as well as the back AND front waistband keeping a snug fit in the belly area.
If the X-Plus adopted those two aspects of Attends described above, Secure would truly have the ULTIMATE diaper.
This is one of the issues that has caused me the greatest anxiety: logically I know that a better brief is worth a higher price, even from a financial standpoint. But emotionally I haven’t been able to get past the seemingly higher price…
Matthew-
It’s just like anything. It’s hard to buy the premium product when the discount one is so much cheaper. But like most things, the extra expense is worth it.
I wear both cloth backed Abri From X-Pus Air and regualar plastic backed Abri Form X-Pus. The only problem I have with the Abri Form X-Plus are the tapes letting go like the Molicares used to do. I have to agree with the person that wrote; Why don’t they just make regular baby diapers larger to fit adults, they do a great job on babies. A diaper is a diaper no matter what you call it.
Is there a product which protects palsy patients who sleep on their side? Have tried Attends pullups & taped version and still leaks heavily on the side & front of leg; patient attends day care & needs pull ups. Perhaps pull up in Secure version would work if all around coverage was provided.
Hi Gary,
you are correct in in thinking that a better, more absorbent, longer lasting adult diaper is a much needed product. I am an active adult that goes to work every day for 8 to 10 hours a day. Before finding adult diapers that could perform as a diaper, I had to stuff baby diapers inside the adult diaper just to make it through a day of work. I would put extra baby diapers in the glove comartment of the car and change at lunch and breakes. Trying to deal with the less than adiquite adult products on the market today in the USA has been a major frustration. Thank god for Secure X-Plus diapers! They may not be what I would call “the perfect diaper” but they are by far the best product to date that I have found to manage my incontinence when going in public.
From the bottom of my heart, I personaly want to thank the person or persons responcible for taking the time to develope, manufacture, and sell a product that actualy preforms the fuction it is inteded for. It is quite evident that the other manufactures of incontinent products don’t either have a clue as to what is needed or are purely proffit oriented and do not care.
Thank you for caring,
Rob
Hello all,
Thank you all for the truly wonderful comments! I will try to tackle a few responses at once:
@Debby, Steve, Rob, and Ron: I would recommend using anything with heavy absorbency and standing leg cuffs/gathers. In addition, Debby, you might want to consider using a heavy-absorbent underpad below your patient to ensure full containment. I have heard of people taping diapers on in reverse, and while it works, to be honest, it is not the most comfortable feeling for the patient. But, whatever works!
@Delfinia: I’d recommend using a full-matted product with leg cuffs as well. In addition, you can double your absorbency by using a “diaper doubler” pad (see our SR900 product) that is positioned in the diaper to guard against leakage on the side where the person is sleeping.
@Rob: Thanks for your incredibly nice words. They are much appreciated.
To all, keep the good comments coming!
Your Partner in Comfort,
Gary