do you wonder whether disposable incontinence supplies are cheaper in the long run than reusable types? do you worry about putting all of those disposable items into the environment? if you are using incontinence products of any kind (pads adult diapers undergarments etc. ) you need to evaluate the types of products available based on what is most important to you — convenience or economy. there is no research to tell you which type of product is better for the skin. disposable products are convenient. purchased in quantity they can be always available when needed and require no labor other than putting them on. underwear and pads come in a wide range of sizes (waist extenders are available for some briefs) and they all are available in light medium and heavy protection levels. disposable incontinence products are more expensive than washable products in general and can cost anywhere from $200 to $400 per month depending on the amount of urine loss. this is a large expense for a person on a fixed income. some people are forced to make their own homemade pads from tissue paper towels and other materials. unfortunately medicare hmos and insurance companies don't tend to cover the cost of absorbent products and their disposal adds to environmental pollution. at the same time reusable products may not be as "skin friendly" as disposable ones. washable/reusable products are economical. studies have shown that some washable pads are equivalent in cost to 100 disposable pads of the same absorbency. washable underwear is available in basic styles in styles that mimic regular underwear and in styles that are elegant and indistinguishable from fine lingerie. if you are caring for someone who needs many underwear or pad changes daily the labor of washing these products is a factor to consider. incontinence garments (sometimes called adult diapers) that are washable usually have an outer layer of plastic rubber or synthetic material for protection and can be pulled up snapped on the side or open down the front. they are usually less expensive to use over time than disposable garments. because of their waterproof outer layer many women find washable garments uncomfortable because they don't "breathe". such women often prefer cotton underwear with a perineal pad in the crotch to collect urine leakage.
how should i choose incontinence products?