What are absorbent products and who uses them?

Topic Progress:

Absorbent products contain leaks of urine and / or stool.

They are helpful for people who have incontinence.

A pad with sides that wrap around the waist and hips and is fastened at the front with sticky tape on each side.

Pad held in place by close fitting stretch pants.

One piece of fabric folded around a person’s waist and hips and fastened in place with pins.

A pair of washable pants with absorbant layer sewn in. It has fasteners on the front and elastic around the legs and waist.

Incontinence is when a person is not able to control their bladder or bowel.

It can also be described as leaks, leaking, or having ‘accidents’.

In this module we will use the term ‘leak­s’ for ‘incontinence’.

Incontinence is common. An estimated 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men experience urinary incontinence.

There are lots of reasons why people may experience incontinence.

Test your knowledge of the different groups of people who may have incontinence by answering the following questions.

Question

1. Which of the following groups of people are more likely to have incontinence?






If you checked all of the above, you are correct.

There are lots of different reasons why people may experience incontinence. The list above describes just some of the people who may be affected.

  1. Is this true or false: Incontinence only affects people with disabilities.

False. Women, men, boys and girls of all ages experience incontinence.

If you did not get the questions right, or were not sure, go back and review the continence topic in the TAP Self care module.

Absorbent products can assist a person with incontinence by protecting their clothes and close environment. This may include their chair, bed, wheelchair, car seat.

They help maintain a person’s dignity, comfort and quality of life.

Luciana sitting in her armchair with hands in her lap.

Watch this short video where Richard explains how absorbent products help him.

Reflection

What are the benefits for Richard in wearing absorbent products?

Do you know of an older person who uses absorbent products, or may need them? What are the benefits for them?

What about younger people? Do you know any children or adults who have incontinence? How does their incontinence impact their lives?

Incontinence impacts people in different ways.

Richard describes how absorbent products give him more confidence to leave the house and continue doing the things he likes to do.

Feeling embarrassed or anxious about leaking is natural. This often causes people to limit or avoid their activities. This can include not wanting to leave home, missing out on education, not being able to work or join in community and social events.

Absorbent products may be used short term or long term.

They may be used short term while a person receives treatment or practices other ways to reduce their incontinence.

Always make sure a person who has leaks sees a health professional for assessment of the reason for incontinence and advice on treatment or management.

Question

An older woman with grey hair and a younger woman with black hair stand leaning into each other, smiling at the camera.

Meet Marina

Marina is 52 and has two adult daughters. She has had leaks since child birth. She has to rush to get to the toilet. Sometimes she does not get there on time.

Since going through menopause, the leaks are heavier and more frequent.

Marina is having treatment to help her regain control of her bladder. While waiting for the treatment to take effect she is using absorbent products.

Is Marina using absorbent products short term or long term?


Short term. Marina is using absorbent products short term until she regains control of her bladder

Luciana is sitting at a table doing a jigsaw. Jose is sitting next to her with a book. He checks his watch.

Meet Luciana

Luciana lives with her husband Jose. Luciana has difficulty remembering. She does not recognise when to go to the toilet. She had frequent leaks.

Luciana and Jose saw a health professional for advice. The health care professional suggested Luciana use absorbent products. They also advised Jose to prompt Luciana to go to the toilet at regular times through the day. This should help reduce leaks.

Is Luciana likely to need absorbent products short term or long term?


Long term. Reminders from Jose to go to the toilet have helped Luciana have less leaks. However, she is likely to need absorbent products long term to avoid embarrassment and reduce washing and cleaning when she does have a leak.

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