16 Incontinence Must-Haves for Caregivers

Let’s face, incontinence stinks… No, literally it stinks. It’s a dirty job, but somebody has to do it. My guess is that if you are reading this, then that somebody is you.

I have been a health care professional for nearly 2 decades, if you count my years as a student nurse, so needless to say, I have seen it all when it comes to poop explosions and have handled more 10 lb urine-soaked diapers than I can count. Plus, I’ve had 3 kids in 4 years, so there’s that too. But we all not that no baby diaper can every prepare you for an agitated, confused, incontinent senior.

My point is, I have been in a lot of sticky situations and I want to teach you how to survive. I’m going to share with you all of my incontinence must-haves, plus my bonus top 3 incontinence survival tips. So, let’s jump right in!

Disclosure: Please keep in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. I link to these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours.

Must-have products

Incontinence Wear and Clean-up

1. Adult Briefs– Adult briefs are an absolute MUST when managing incontinence. Consider your circumstances when purchasing briefs. Pull-up type briefs are great for those who are more mobile and independent. The sides can easily be torn away when cleaning up a messy situation.

However, for those who are less mobile, wheelchair or bed-bound, a tab brief option is going to be much more functional for both of you.

2. Wipes– Now, of course, you can always use a washcloth and soapy water for any cleanup (see my recommendation below), but wipes are so much more convenient. They help contain messes and decreasing the risk of cross-contamination of other items in the vicinity. They can be easily thrown in a plastic bag, tied up, and removed within minutes.

3. Disposable White Wash Clothes– these are wash clothes that are very inexpensive. You can usually find them at a cost breakdown of about $0.50 a piece. They get the job down and can be bleached and reused, or for those more monumental messes, they can be thrown away (I promise in those situations, that will be 50 cents well spent).

4. Gloves– These are another non-negotiable in my opinion. I don’t care how close your bond is with your loved one, bodily waste should not be shared. C-diff, staph, and e. Coli are very real infectious organisms and can spread through your house like wild-fire. Use gloves and if they get soiled, remove them, throw them away, and get a new pair. This is not an area to skimp on. And of course, always practice good handwashing.

5. Disposable Gowns– No you don’t need a ton of these, but I promise the first time you find poop smeared across every bathroom surface or bedroom, you’ll wish you had some gowns on standby…and a match.

6. BLEACH!!!– I know we are living in a time that frowns upon harsh chemicals, but sometimes there’s just no substitute for the powerful germ-fighting properties of bleach. Wash soiled linens and wash clothes with hot water and bleach. Also, be sure to dry bed linen and towel on high heat dryer settings or the sanitize setting if you have one.

Protection for the Beds

7. Mattress Protector– Mattress protectors are great at protecting the mattress from urine that has soaked through the brief and the occasional head to toe poop explosion. They really help preserve the life of the mattress and help keep odor down.

8. Linen Bed pads– Bed pads help protect both the sheets and mattress, cutting down on your laundry load. As an added bonus they are awesome at helping reposition someone while in bed.

9. Disposable pads– You may be noticing a theme here, but the disposable pads help protect the linen bed pads, the sheets, and the mattress. When soiled, you can easily throw away the disposable and get several more uses out the linen bed pad and sheets. Less laundry is the name of the game. You have enough to do.

Toileting Supplies

For those who can easily be toileted, this may save you quite a bit of supplies. Give them the opportunity every 2-3 hours while awake to sit on the toilet or use the urinal. You’ll be surprised at how much less frequently the incontinence episodes will become.

10. Bedside commode– These are especially helpful for those who are less mobile or frequently need to get the bathroom fast. To make cleaning a bedside commode easier, keep a small amount of water in the bucket at all times to help stool slid out more easily.

11. Urinals– Hand-held urinals are an absolute lifesaver and CHEAP. Who doesn’t love cheap? They are most helpful for men. While they do have female urinals, they sometimes work better in theory than reality.

12. Bedpan– Bedpans are probably my least favorite and they can be hit or miss. However, they work really well for some people. I think they are inexpensive enough to give one a try if you are looking for alternatives.

13. Toilet Sprayer -It may be worthwhile to invest in a toilet sprayer, commonly used for cloth diapers. They easily attach to your toilet and make cleaning out a bedside commode or bedpan a breeze.

14. Commode liners– You could also consider getting disposable bedside commode liners, making clean up especially easy.

Skincare

15. Barrier creams and Ointments- Barrier creams and ointments help protect the skin from moisture and contaminants. This can help decrease the risk of skin breakdown. This is a list of creams and ointments I commonly recommend for my patients:

Calmoseptine

Desitin

Calazime

A&D ointment

` A&D ointment and Desitin can easily be found at any local drugstore. Calmoseptine and Calazime can be more easily found online or at medical supply stores.

16. Perineal Wash (Peri wash)– Peri wash is a no-rinse liquid spray that cleans and moisturizes the skin at the same time. Make it easy to just spray, wipe, and get on to your next task.

Top 3 Incontinence Survival Tips

1. NEVER, EVER run out of supplies!

For items like briefs, wipes, and gloves, I suggest buying them in bulk and even consider a subscription service. Thankfully, you can purchase these items at Walgreens, Target, or even your local grocery store, but you usually pay the price for convenience. If you have Amazon Prime, with free 1-2 Day shipping, that is also a great option. I would just recommend comparing prices and finding the most convenient, cost-effective method.

Medical Supply Depot is just one of many medical supply companies you can use. I like them because they have all of the professional medical-grade supplies and equipment I’ve been using and ordering on the job for nearly 2 decades now. Also, they make ordering and reordering super easy. An added bonus is that the shipping is fast and free if your purchase is more than $75, which isn’t much when you’re buying in bulk.

Now, if you are an Amazon Prime member, that’s also a great option. Usually, the prices are competitive and subscribe and save is available for many of there products as well. Their lightning-fast shipping is hard to beat. I would recommend price matching between Amazon and other medical supply sites like Medical Supply Depot.

2. Make an Incontinence care bag

Prepare a bag for outings, with of the incontinence necessities. You never know when disaster might strike, so never leave the house unprepared. In the incontinence care bag include:

Gloves
Wipes
Peri-Wash
Extra Briefs or underwear
Change of clothes
Plastic bags or wet-bag for soiled items.

3. Be compassionate

If given the choice, no one would choose incontinence. For some, this can be a great source of shame, causing depression and isolation. Be mindful of how you approach messy situations and your attitude. Try your best to provide privacy and discretion, and always give care in the same way you would want to be cared for. So, while yes, caring for someone with incontinence can be a dirty job, remember to give care gracefully. Always strive to preserve dignity.

In Summary

Managing incontinence can be intimidating at first, but with the right tools, you can totally handle it. Equip yourself to give care gracefully. Pin this post to keep track of this checklist. As always, I would love to hear from you. Let me know what your incontinence must-haves are in the comments below.

Be Blessed,

Stephanie