Time takes its toll on everyone and everything, and when the aging process begins to show its effects, even routine and mundane tasks appear intimidating. With advancing age, most men and women start to experience urine and bowel movement problems, also known as incontinence. These critical moments are when diapers for adults come into play, protecting the wearer’s privacy and dignity. Only some years ago, adult diapers were primarily available in hospitals and considered a rarity. But their usefulness has popularised them. They are not messy, and their higher absorption capacity makes adult diapers a much sought-after commodity, enabling wearing for longer hours.
Who Can Use Adult Diapers?
Apart from their usefulness to aged men and women with incontinence, adult diapers are also very helpful for younger individuals with mobility impairment, any underlying medical condition, a cognitive disorder, or for those who have been involved in an accident and are temporarily immobile. People with dementia may also sometimes need adult diapers as they may not realize they have to visit the toilet.Â
Types of Adult Diapers
You can get adult diapers in various sizes and styles and with different absorption capacities. Diapers for adults are usually unisex, and all you need to do is choose the size that gives you the maximum comfort while preventing leakage. Two types of disposable adult diapers are available in the market, and they include:
- Open-style disposable diapers: These one-time-use adult diapers are the most common and have refastenable tapes to achieve the desired fit. They are convenient for individuals who are mobile, semi-mobile, or non-mobile. Open-style diapers reduce the risk of infections.
- Pull-up disposable diapers: These are also one-time-use adult diapers with a soft elastic waistband. They need to be pulled up like underwear. These diapers come with side trims that can be torn off easily. The leg extensions have cuffs to prevent leakages. Pull-up diapers also reduce the risk of catching infections.
These diapers have an absorption capacity of more than 12 hours, keeping the wearer comfortable throughout this period.
Understanding Urinary Incontinence
Understanding some facts about urinary incontinence becomes essential when discussing diapers for adults. First, urinary incontinence is not a disease but a symptom of some physical or mental problem or fallout of some everyday habit. The causes may also be temporary, with incontinence getting triggered after consuming drinks containing alcohol and caffeine, acidic food, or heart and blood pressure medication. Other causes responsible for urinary incontinence include:
- Urinary Tract InfectionÂ
- Pregnancy/Menopause
- Childbirth
- Hysterectomy
- Enlarged Prostate
- Prostate Cancer
- Neurological Disorders
- Old Age
Conclusion
Thus, we now know that adult diapers can be helpful not only for the aged but also for younger individuals who become impaired as fallout of an accident or physical or mental issue. These adult diapers are easy to wear, comfortable, and, most importantly, aid in maintaining the user’s dignity. Sometimes, some people get confused between adult diapers and urine bags, but the difference between the two is quite clear. Urine bags or urostomy pouches are special bags used to collect urine after bladder surgery.
