Care and fitting advice of your continence products

Low absorbency pads will have an adhesive strip on the back to fix into your own underwear to ensure close fit. Stretch pants, also known as fixation pants must be worn with all shaped pads in order to hold the pad close and minimise the chances of leakage. Stretch pants may also be requested for all other pads if your own underwear is not close fitting. Try and cup the pads slightly when fitting to aid containment. The larger area goes to the back, the smaller area to the front. With flex and slip pads, it is important to have the right size pad for the client, the nurse will measure either your hips or waist. If the pad is too tight it could cause skin damage and may fall off. Increasing the pad size will not increase absorbency. If the pad is too tight, the fastening will be loose and may cause leakage. The pad should fit snugly.

Tips for fitting the slip pad

Fastening the bottom tapes first at an angle pointing slightly upwards towards the belly button. This maximises the leg seal to prevent leaks. The top tapes are fastened across comfortably.

Most pads have wetness indicators to help tell when they need changing. Only change the pad when the wetness indicator has changed more than half its length, thereby getting the most absorbency from each pad. Immediately after each accident, the pad will feel wet, allow one minute for the core of the pad to absorb the wetness and the top layer to become dry. Only change the pad when the top layer starts to feel wet or the indicators have changed.

Oil based creams or talc should not be applied to the bottom or to the pad as this will block the pores in the pads top layer effectively waterproofing the pad so that the urine cannot be absorbed. The skin will then become very wet, this could cause redness and soreness and the pad could leak, this is known as moisture lesions. Any concerns with the skin being red or damaged. Contact your GP or District Nurse immediately. There are products available for cleansing and protecting the skin.

Care of your continence underwear / bed sheets

If you have been issued with ‘reusable’ incontinence products, pants or sheets, they should be washed once before they are used for the first time to activate the fibres in the absorbent material. They can be washed either by hand or in the washing machine (at 50 degrees). Ordinary washing powder / liquid can be used but do not use fabric softener/conditioner or two in one soap powders. These will coat the material, resulting in less absorbency. They can be dried in a tumbler drier or by hanging to air. Do not iron. When using the bed sheets, night time clothing shouldn’t be worn as this will become wet and cold causing discomfort. Sleep with bare skin on the sheet and the urine will be absorbed, leaving the skin dry and warm (short night gowns, pyjama top or t-shirt can be worn on upper body.)

Remember

• Wash before use (by hand or machine)
• Do not use fabric softener
• Sleep with bare skin on the bed sheets

The products have a minimum lifetime of 100 washes so six pairs of underwear or two reusable covers should last around 12 months. After this period of time, you will notice that the absorbency reduces and you will need to request further products. If you have a change in condition during this time, please contact the Continence Promotion Service