Managing Bowel Incontinence

[medscape]

I'd like to know if there are any reusable or washable adult diapers for patients with Bowel/Urinary Incontinence. Some patients need changing at a greater frequency and disposable products may not remain an economical option anymore. Moreover, a disposable diaper (or a reusable for that matter) if kept on for long, results in UTI infections.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

I'd like to know if there are any reusable or washable adult diapers for patients with Bowel/Urinary Incontinence. Some patients need changing at a greater frequency and disposable products may not remain an economical option anymore. Moreover, a disposable diaper (or a reusable for that matter) if kept on for long, results in UTI infections.

Are you talking about home use or use in a facility? Facilitities that send their laundy out are charged by the pound. Our facility uses throw aways but I have seen what appear to be large cloth briefs (I refuse to call them diapers) in some facilities. As for home use I have actually see what looks like rubber briefs that can be worn over regular underwear.

Still I would think that unless mony is an issue the throw aways woould be better. Most of the elders I know who use them have some form of dementia or a physical disability that would make more laundry difficult for them and if they are living with a spouse or child who is already doing the best they can just to provide care they don't need added work of extra laundry. When in a facility and we have surveyed them out - Throw aways are more cost effective than cloth because Medicare and most private insurance do not cover them and here in California with this crazy drought - water rates have reached rediculous highs - ( although it's raining right now - think I'll go dance in it).

So there are pros and cons to each - Just please don't call them diapers. These are adults entitled to dignity.

Hppy