Many adults experience a loss of bladder control or urinary incontinence. This can be caused by age, certain medications, or an underlying medical condition such as diabetes, menopause, or an enlarged prostate.
If you’re one of these people, this isn’t a reason to feel humiliated or helpless. Nor should you stop doing the things you love. According to the National Association for Continence, Over 25 million people in the U.S. suffer from daily bladder leakage.
Thankfully there are dozens of products on the market. All are designed to make living with incontinence easier.
One of the most prevalent products? Overnight bed pads. This handy investment helps to keep you and the space you sleep in dry and clean.
Read on to learn more about choosing the best bed pads for you.
What Are Bed Pads?
First things first, what are bed pads? Bed pads for adults, such as The Wellness Absorbent Breathable Underpad, are designed to protect from any incontinence mishaps that may occur throughout the night. The pads absorb urine, thus protecting you, your mattress, and other surfaces. These pads aren’t limited to beds alone. Many use them on car or wheelchair seats too.
In addition, this product can be used solo or alongside incontinence underwear. Incontinence bed pads are available in various styles and sizes, as well as washable and disposable options.
Key Features to Look For When Purchasing Bed Pads
With so many options available, when choosing bed pads, it’s important to know what to look for. Three key features to look out for include:
- Odor control: Many modern-day designs come as standard with odor control capabilities through antimicrobial solutions to lessen odor-causing bacteria.
- Absorbency: Another feature is absorbance. Check product details to determine how much liquid they can hold and opt for the product that best suits your needs. For best results, look for bed pads boasting 9500ml capacity and above.
- Comfort: Another must-have feature! Especially if using disposable bed pads daily. Opt for breathable pads featuring a soft, non-woven material. This has the effect of making the user feel like they are sleeping on their bedsheet. Using the right incontinence products can help protect you or loved ones from skin irritation that can lead to discomfort or rashes. In addition, bed pads may also help to deter bed sores. How? By providing a soft layer between the mattress and the body. This lessens the pressure on the body.
The Benefits of Bed Pads
Several types of urinary incontinence exist, including urge urinary incontinence, stress urinary incontinence, functional incontinence, overflow incontinence, and mixed incontinence. Bed pads counteract these issues by protecting your bed and body.
Below, you will discover five key benefits of investing in adult bed pads for adults:
1. Peace of Mind
Anyone with a leaky bladder or urinary incontinence can benefit from using a bed pad. They provide you with the utmost peace of mind throughout the night, allowing you to worry less about soiling your bed linens or damaging your mattress. Knowing you have a protective layer in between the mattress and yours truly will promote restful sleep by lessening feelings of stress and anxiety.
2. Versatile Option
As well as on beds, this product can protect additional furniture, including wheelchairs, car seats, sofas, or any object a person may sit or lie on. Disposable Incontinence Bed Pads easily adhere to a variety of surfaces. Securing them in place will avoid replacing bedding, mattresses, or furniture.
Another use for bed pads? In health facilities. This includes care homes and hospitals. Healthcare providers use disposable bed pads to protect equipment, floors, and patients.
Incontinence underpads boast multiple layers of cleverly designed fabric, which means wetness remains in one place.
3. They Extend the Life of Your Bedding and Mattresses
One of the benefits of bed pads? They prolong the life of your mattress or bedding. This nifty tool will prevent damage due to incontinence, spills, or other accidents, ensuring your mattress stays in tip-top condition for as long as possible. The result? You save both time and hassle.
4. They Heighten Hygiene
By preventing bodily fluids or urine from coming into contact with your skin, adult bed pads help to heighten hygiene levels, preventing infection by lessening the growth of bacteria.
They also ensure those suffering from incontinence conditions or other medical issues are comfortable. Bed pads for adults help to improve comfort levels by providing an absorbent layer between the bed and the body that is soft and breathable. The effect? Preventing skin irritations from occurring and increasing comfort during sleep.
5. Lower Your Laundry Duties
If you suffer from incontinence issues and don’t use a bed pad, you’ll likely have to do laundry each day! This costs both time and money. Not only will you have to purchase several sets of bedsheets and covers, but you’ll also have to wash those that are soiled every morning. This will ramp up washer (and dryer) costs, if you reside in a cooler climate, as you won’t be able to hang the sheets out to dry.
If you work as a healthcare worker or care for someone at home, disposable bed pads can save you time and money. Simply remove the used pad and replace it with a new one when required. This frees up your time to focus on other household chores or activities.
The Bottom Line
Bed pads are an asset to adults suffering from incontinence caused by a variety of issues. They’re designed to make you feel comfortable and live life without feeling embarrassed or helpless.
They’re also a great investment for care homes, hospitals, and carers. Why? They lessen the need for laundry or furniture and mattress replacements.
Most contemporary products boast advanced technologies that promise to wick away moisture, prevent leaks, and lessen the risk of infection or irritation – allowing you and your loved ones to remain comfortable, dry, and confident.