How Nursing Assistants Can Assist in Breaking the Cycle of Incontinence Frustration

by Jane Hankenhof Curry, BS Gerontologist

As a certified nursing assistant you are responsible for the care of a unique group of people, our country's elderly. You have chosen a profession that makes the difference in the lives of people that are often very fragile and unable to care for themselves. Along with that noble choice comes many challenges and rewards. One challenge that can add a lot of stress to your day is incontinence. Incontinence that is ineffectively managed can seem like a never-ending cycle of soggy and leaky briefs, wet clothing and soaked bed linens having to be changed over and over again. When your time is spent changing briefs and wet clothing you don't have time to do those "extras" that you would like to do for a resident.

There is a simple solution that can break this cycle. It is a solution with results that improve the quality of life for the residents you so lovingly take care of day after day. It is a solution that can also improve the quality of your work experience.

Although it seems like it won't make a difference, the choice of incontinence products can make a BIG difference for everyone involved. The choice between a low performance product line and a high performance product line can negatively or positively impact resident care and your work environment. Once you experience the results of using high performance incontinence products you will realize that using low performance products simply does not make sense.

Today's high performance incontinence products are not just convenient. They provide many valuable benefits to residents and their caregivers. These products improve skin integrity, eliminate odor, neutralize urine pH, reduce leakage, and control bacterial growth that can lead to urinary tract infections. In addition they also provide for uninterrupted sleep that results in less combative residents, and creates a more pleasant environment for everyone. You may be wondering how a pad or brief can do all these things. The answer is simple. The answer is super absorbent polymer technology.

Super absorbent technology can make a world of difference for incontinent residents and for you as their caregivers. The goal of today's high performance super absorbent products is to help you manage incontinence more effectively. Low performance products are made of a cotton-like material. There is a common belief that the fluffier the brief that more urine it will hold. However, these "fluffy" products don't offer the benefits of the higher performing polymer product. Imagine the look and feel of soggy wet cotton and you will know what it is like when urine hits a low performance product. Super absorbent products pull or wick away the urine from the skin and lock it into the core of the brief. This major difference in technology results in dry skin, neutralization of bacteria, and no odor.

Here's what to look for when choosing high absorbency products:

Liquid absorption and retention capacity
Leak proof protection
Odor elimination
Control of bacterial growth
Cost -effectiveness

1. Liquid absorption and retention capacity.
Skin safety should be a top priority in choosing an absorbent product. Moist skin is prone to irritation, breakdown and the formation of pressure sores. High-performance products retain larger volumes of urine and will not "squeeze out" even under pressure. The result is dryer, healthier skin.

It is very important to remember to check your residents and to reposition them according to rules and regulations set by your state's licensing and regulatory agency. However, there is not a "law" that requires briefs to be changed every 2 hours. If a facility uses low performance products they may need to be changed more frequently due to their inability to retain urine.

2. Leak proof protection
Leakage of urine can be prevented. The common belief that the larger the brief the more urine it will hold is really a myth. It is essential that residents be measured for a proper fitting brief. A resident wearing the wrong size brief, a large when they should be in a small, only leads to leakage. High performance products contain super absorbent polymers that will absorb large amounts of urine. These products perform at their maximum capacity to prevent leakage when a resident is wearing the correct size brief.

3. Odor elimination

The smell of urine is very unpleasant and yet it is very common in a facility that uses low performance products. High performance products eliminate urine odor as their technology neutralizes the bacteria responsible for creating the odor. Odor elimination results in a more pleasant environment for everyone.

4. Control of bacterial growth
Neutralization of bacteria is important for many reasons. Unabsorbed urine is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and other organisms. These can easily lead to complications, including urinary tract infections. High performance products neutralize the pH in urine and inhibit the growth of bacteria, creating a safer skin environment. At-risk residents remain dry and protected. Exceptional levels of skin integrity are achieved through the use of super absorbent products.

5. Cost-effectiveness.
A product with a lower absorption capacity needs to be changed more frequently, using more units. A high performance product does lasts longer between changes because it absorbs and neutralizes much more urine than a low performance product. Even though the product may have a higher unit price, it reduces not only the number of units used, but related costs such as laundry and skin care lotions, and can actually result in significantly lower total daily cost. Fewer changes mean less labor and inconvenience for you and greater wellness for the incontinent resident.

A product with a lower absorption capacity needs to be changed more frequently, using more units. A high performance product does lasts longer between changes because it absorbs and neutralizes much more urine than a low performance product. Even though the product may have a higher unit price, it reduces not only the number of units used, but related costs such as laundry and skin care lotions, and can actually result in significantly lower total daily cost. Fewer changes mean less labor and inconvenience for you and greater wellness for the incontinent resident.

Today's disposable incontinence products are designed to meet the "individual" needs of each resident. Products come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles and provide light, moderate, and heavy absorbency. Residents should be properly assessed to determine which product best meets their incontinence needs. Do they have a simple "dribble" problem, suffer from dementia, or are they completely bedridden? These are just a few of the factors that need to be taken into consideration during an assessment. All factors are important, as they will help to provide the resident with the correct product to meet their incontinence needs. The best choice may be a pad, pant and pad system, liner, undergarment, brief, pull on, or combination of products to provide the level of absorbency the resident needs. It is essential to keep in mind that the resident is an "individual" and the "one size brief for all" is not an effective way to manage incontinence.

It is so important for residents, their families, and you when products effectively manage incontinence. Superior performing products deliver high volume absorption, skin protection, uninterrupted sleep, and greater comfort and peace of mind. Now you will have the time to focus on the "little extras" that you really enjoy providing which enhance the quality of life for your residents.

Jane Hankenhof Curry, BS Gerontology is the Education and Market Development Coordinator for Principle Business Enterprises, Inc. of Dunbridge, Ohio. PBE is the manufacturer of Tranquility, a full line of high performance incontinence products, and can be found on the web at www.tranquilityproducts.com. © 2010 Principle Business Enterprises, Inc.