Incontinence

Adult Diapers: Pads, Liners, Inserts & Guards—Oh My!

August 6th, 2007
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We’ve talked in the past few posts about how confusing it can be to purchase adult incontinence care garments. This post will build on some of the great comments I’ve gotten and will, I hope, help further distinguish exactly what’s for sale at local mass-market and drug stores and in the online world of incontinence care products.

Pads

Adapted from feminine hygiene pads, most of the incontinence care pads you see on today’s shelves are lightweight, plastic-backed pads about 8–12 inches long and 3 or 4 inches wide. They’re perfect to put inside normal underwear, which makes them a great product for people who need “on-the-go” protection from minor urinary accidents. Most pads are made for women with light-to-moderate urinary or stress incontinence. The majority of pads have a sticky substance on the plastic backing to help keep the pad in place, and some pads now employ standing leg cuffs, an important feature that will help ensure that these absorbent pads don’t leak on your clothing. Some of the most popular brand names are Poise, Dignity and, of course, Secure.

Guards and Liners

In some ways, guards are the male version of the female incontinence pad. Originally marketed by manufacturing giant Kimberly-Clark, with more masculine terminology (think “en garde!” ), these incontinence care products are a little longer than a regular feminine pad. The placement of the Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) is different as well, suited to the male anatomy. Guards work well for light-to-moderate stress incontinence.

Liners have fallen into the same marketing category as guards, as they are essentially the same product. Liners are generally more rectangular than guards, which often (particularly in the past) have a more contoured shape.

Both liners and guards can be inserted into larger incontinence briefs (okay, I will call them adult diapers!) to act as a “diaper doubler.” These doublers improve the absorbency and long-lasting effects of the diaper.

In my next installment, we’ll take a look at the two major types of adult diapers most commonly sold on the shelves: pull-on protective underwear and tape-on adult diapers (briefs).

Until then, be well.

Your Partner in Comfort,

Gary

  

Learn everything about adult diapers by visiting Everything About Incontinence.

  

Gary is an adviser to online incontinence care products provider SecurePersonalCare.com.

Posted in Everything about Incontinence, Incontinence, Incontinence: Gary Hirsch

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4 Responses to “Adult Diapers: Pads, Liners, Inserts & Guards—Oh My!”
  1. Dirty Butter Says:

    LOL I absolutely refuse to call them diapers!! We have been caregivers for three parents, and we never allowed any paid help or hospice people to call them diapers in the presence of our loved ones. It’s just an assault on an adult’s dignity. We always called them Depends, regardless of the type or brand, rather than say diaper. I actually like incontinence brief as a name for them.

    And of course, now that I have PD, I can be pretty sure the day will come when I am wearing them, and I’m not going to want anyone calling them diapers, either!!! OK, I’ll get off my soapbox now.

  2. Gary Hirsch Says:

    Hello Dirty Butter,
    Thanks for your reply! Though I’d prefer you to call them “Secure Briefs” instead of Depends (wink!), I completely understand where you’re coming from. The naming issue is something we’ve discussed a lot on this blog, and it is very interesting to see how clearly opinionated each respondent is!

    I appreciate your comment.

    Your partner in comfort,
    Gary

  3. Pete Says:

    I really like your Secure X Plus brand except for the tape placement.
    The two tapes on each side are close together at the top leaving large flaps under them that have no way to be secured.
    I find it impossible to get a good fit and have resorted to using diaper pins or adhesive tape to secure the bottoms and get a good fit.
    Why did you choose the tape placement as it is?
    Is there an availability to obtain additional tape (possibly on a roll) so I can remedy this myself?

  4. Gary Hirsch Says:

    Hi Pete,
    Thanks for your comment.
    I’ve been looking for a good tape that we could sell online for people like you who’d rather tape their diapers in a different fashion than how they’re made. Frankly, there was a company out there called Tuck Industries (they made Tuck Tape for baby diapers), but I think they’ve disappeared (I haven’t contacted them since 1983!). Stay tuned to http://www.securepersonalcare.com as we hope to launch a roll-brand of adult diaper tape sometime soon.
    Your Partner in Comfort,
    Gary

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