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Caring for a disabled or elderly person requires a lot of hygiene equipment and articles. They are an invaluable help in maintaining the patient’s hygiene. One of such products are hygienic pads, which are waterproof mats that protect the mattress against leakage. How to get refunds for hygienic liners and where to buy them?
Hygienic pads for seniors
Hygienic pads for adults are one of the articles necessary to maintain the hygiene of disabled, elderly, as well as permanently or temporarily immobilized people. Thanks to their use, in the case of people who incontinence urine, they will not get soaked into the mattress or material. They are also useful for people who have had surgery (such as prostatectomy), are recovering from childbirth, and for children who have frequent episodes of bedwetting.
There are a number of medical conditions, including dementia and post-stroke condition, that can cause urinary incontinence. Using incontinence pads can help keep bedding clean. Some are washable and others are disposable. The main thing is to choose a hygienic pad that will protect your skin and bedding. Hygienic pads are especially useful when changing diapers or diapers.
What sanitary pads are available? Certainly, they are of different sizes, so they can be easily adapted to the place where the sick or disabled person is. The offer includes hygienic pads for the bed, as well as for the seat, for example a wheelchair. In addition, you can choose from disposable or reusable hygienic liners. In medical stores, you can also find reusable waterproof sheets, which are a comprehensive and reliable hygienic underlay.
See also: When suddenly everyday life becomes impossible. 5 tips that will make the daily toilet of a dependent person easy again
Hygienic liners – refund
Replacement hygienic pads, like diaper pants, were included in the list of products subject to reimbursement under the Ordinance of the Minister of Finance of May 29, 2017. The percentage of reimbursement for hygiene pads can be full or partial. It all depends on the patient’s disease:
- neoplastic disease (including primarily perineal and sacral cancer), its treatment and related complications – 100% refunds,
- neurogenic / non-neurogenic urinary and fecal incontinence, dementia syndromes, deep mental retardation, damage or congenital defects of the nervous system, iatrogenic and post-traumatic damage or congenital defects of the urinary tract, iatrogenic or traumatic damage to the digestive system – 70% refunds.
The reimbursement of hygienic pads for seniors is associated with monthly limits, which currently amount to 90 disposable pads. What is important, however, when the doctor issues an order for several months, the collection of hygienic liners in advance is possible only in the first month. In the following months, it is decreased by the missed month.
Hygienic liners – how to get them?
The guardian applying for the reimbursement of hygienic underpads should ask for an order from a general practitioner, family doctor, internal medicine, neurology, geriatrics, urology, gynecology, oncological gynecology, oncological or general surgery, clinical oncology, cancer chemotherapy, palliative and hospice care, and a medical assistant with a contract NFZ or an authorized nurse.
Where to buy hygienic pads? They are available in pharmacies and medical stores upon presentation of a medical supply card (monthly), which is obtained after registering an order from a doctor in a branch of the National Health Fund.
See also: How do I sign up for a GP?
Hygienic liners – what to consider when choosing?
When choosing hygienic pads for the elderly, you should remember about a few key factors. For example, we can choose between disposable and reusable underlays. Other factors to consider are size, absorbency, and cost.
Types of hygienic pads
There are two main types of seniors (incontinence) pads: reusable and disposable. Which one we choose depends on what is most convenient for us. Do we have time for frequent washing, for example? If not, a disposable hygienic liner will work best.
Reusable hygienic liners
Reusable liners typically provide better protection than disposable liners. These waterproof underlays are reliable and will not tear. They also stay in place overnight and are less prone to slipping than some disposable sleepers.
Washable pads are usually made of fabric and are generally considered quite comfortable. They usually have several protective layers built in, including a quick-drying top layer to keep you dry when lying down.
Reusable sanitary pads can, as the name suggests, be used multiple times, which makes them quite cost effective. In addition to helping you save money, they’re good for the environment as they help you produce less waste.
Disposable hygienic liners
Disposable hygienic liners, as the name suggests, are intended for single use. Over time, their use becomes obviously more expensive than washable hygiene liners, but if you only need incontinence liners for a short time, such as for a few weeks after surgery, this type of liner may make the most sense.
Most disposable liners have three or four levels of protection, which can be found on the packaging of various products. Most often, the top layer is made of a soft, quilted material that drains fluid from the skin while the next layer holds urine with an absorbent gel. The bottom layer is made of plastic or vinyl and ensures that the liquid does not leak out and soak into the bed. Many people find the bottom layer annoying to some extent as it can be a source of noise when sleeping on it.
Hygienic pads – size
The size of the underlay is important because it determines how many surfaces it covers, and hence to what extent a sanitary pad is effective. For example, we may only need a small pad for a seat or a wheelchair, or a large hygienic pad for the entire bed. If the backing is not large enough, a person may slide off it. The prices of bed sleepers tend to increase with size.
Hygienic liners – special features
When evaluating hygienic pads, it is worth paying attention to several aspects of their use.
- Absorbency. Let’s study the information on the packaging to determine the absorbency level of the hygienic pad. These products record how much fluid they can hold, a fairly common range is between 1200 and 1500 milliliters. If we want especially very high absorbency, choose a hygienic undercoat with a higher level of absorbency. It is also good to know how quickly the pad absorbs urine, as this affects the likelihood that a “leak” will wake the person sleeping on it.
- Odor absorption. If we are concerned about the smell, let’s check if the product has the ability to absorb the smell. Many products advertise this as an added bonus.
- Comfort. Comfort is key, especially when you use sanitary pads every night. Reusable bed pads are usually softer than disposable ones. People with allergies should opt for a hypoallergenic fabric underlay. Most of the hygiene pads can be placed on top of the mattress, under the sheet. If you’re using a backing for a sheet, make sure the top of the fabric is made of comfortable materials such as microfiber or quilted polyester, or a polyamide blend. Also, make sure the product is air permeable to prevent overheating at night. Some manufacturers design their hygiene liners in such a way that they stay in place throughout their lifetime.
Hygienic liners – prices
Of course, when choosing a hygienic liner, you should also consider the cost of each liner and how much it will cost us if we have to constantly replace it.
As mentioned earlier, replacement pads are included in the list of reimbursable products, the percentage of which can be full or partial. It all depends on the patient’s disease.
Hygienic foundations and skin health
Skin health is very important when it comes to urinary incontinence care. When the skin is often influenced by moisture and urine, it can cause irritations such as incontinence dermatitis. Contributing factors are an increase in skin PH, overhydration of the epidermis, and skin inflammation.
To prevent skin irritation and infection, make sure we buy the right cleansing products and wipes for the person we’re caring for. Soap and water have been shown to further damage the affected skin, so it’s important to use products designed for people with urinary incontinence. Barrier creams that protect the skin by creating a physical barrier between the skin and other pollutants are especially useful.
See also: Dry skin with urinary incontinence? See for yourself that it is possible!
Hygienic liners – frequently asked questions
These are some of the questions we are often asked.
How to clean reusable hygienic liners?
Always refer to the product label or the manufacturer’s instructions before cleaning. High-quality hygienic pads can be cleaned by placing them in an industrial washing machine with washing detergent and using cold water. Make sure your laundry detergents are completely dissolved before drying. It is not recommended to use bleach or over-soften fabrics, as this may damage the liner fabric.
The pads can be string-dried or tumble-dried with appropriately selected settings. Do not iron or overdry it as this may cause the underlay to shrink. Reusable polyurethane (PU) hygienic underlays are the best underlays on the market. They were created to withstand the most intensive washing and drying.
See also: Laundry detergents – what to wash in order to keep it healthy and safe
How often should reusable hygienic liners be replaced?
It is important to replace wet hygiene pads immediately and change them frequently throughout the day to protect your skin. Depending on the level of urinary incontinence, this may be 2 to 6 times a day. We’ll know it’s time to replace the Pad if it starts to get wet against the skin. Special undercoats can even change color when it’s time to change them.
Are reusable pads hygienic?
Yes, thanks to the observance of the appropriate care protocol, reusable hygienic liners are just as hygienic as disposable hygiene liners.
How to get rid of the smell from reusable hygienic liners?
If the pads have an unusually sharp, unpleasant odor, or still smell like urine after the wash cycle is over, try soaking them for a few hours in a mixture of water and baking soda and / or tea tree oil.
See also: Essential oils – properties, application, types of oils [EXPLAINED]
Are sanitary pads expensive?
Over time, reusable pads can save a lot of money, especially in healthcare facilities, and are much better for the environment as disposable pads contribute to waste disposal issues.
How much urine can the hygiene pad hold?
An adult’s bladder usually contains around 550 ml of urine, and most people feel the need to empty their bladder when it is half full, so the amount of urine passed out at a time is around a cup. Depending on the capacity, different versions of the pads are available. High-quality hygienic pads with absorption from 150 ml to 300 ml can accommodate several times more urine volume, which is excreted at once.
See also: Urinary incontinence in men