Written by Carewell Team on Mon Jul 28 2025.
As a family caregiver, managing incontinence care and toileting assistance for a loved one is a common, yet often undiscussed, responsibility. These sensitive topics can be challenging to navigate, but with the right resources, you can confidently provide the best care. That's why we've developed a comprehensive downloadable guide to incontinence & toileting specifically for family caregivers.
Our Carewell Guide to Incontinence and Toileting is designed to answer the most common questions and challenges faced by family caregivers. Drawing on insights from our Care Team's frequent counseling on these topics, we address key pain points, including:
How to measure for incontinence products and choose the right size incontinence underwear.
Understanding the differences between pull-on underwear and disposable briefs with tabs.
Tips for achieving the right fit for adult diapers and protective underwear.
Strategies for preventing leaks based on symptom severity (moderate, heavy, overnight, and bowel incontinence).
Essential advice on skin protection and preventing infection related to incontinence.
Guidance on using bladder pads, booster pads, and underpads.
Solutions for addressing accidents and smells, including tips for deodorizing your home.
How to spot urinary tract infections (UTIs) in older adults.
A detailed incontinence product guide with recommendations for incontinence underwear, absorbent pads, and skin creams.
A step-by-step, illustrated guide on how to change disposable underwear with tabs for your loved one.
This incontinence care guide is an invaluable resource for anyone living with incontinence or caring for someone who does. You can download your free copy below—no purchase necessary. Simply click the download button or contact our Care Team for assistance.
Finding the right fit is the key to comfort and confidence. A well fitting adult diaper provides:
Leak protection
All-day or overnight comfort
More discreet fits
Rash and skin protection
Using a tape measure measure the following:
Waist: Measure all the way around your waist just below the belly button* Hips: Measure the widest part of your hips Legs: Measure your upper thigh, a few inches below your pelvis Weight: Stand on a scale. It’s OK if you need to ballpark a weight range * Most brands provide a size range based on waist, like 34-38”. Use the highest number you measured to choose the right size.
Pull-on underwear offers a discreet and slimmer fit, making it a great choice for managing light to moderate urinary incontinence. Designed for convenience, most styles feature tear-away sides, which allows for easy removal. This type of underwear provides a comfortable and secure option for those seeking a less bulky solution.
Adjustable tab briefs are an excellent choice for managing more significant incontinence, offering greater absorbency than pull-on styles. Their customizable waist fit is particularly beneficial for individuals with varying body shapes, such as those with a smaller waist and larger hips or rear, ensuring a snug and comfortable fit. Furthermore, these briefs provide superior coverage, making them a more effective option for bowel incontinence.
To effectively prevent leaks when managing incontinence, consider a multi-pronged approach. For enhanced absorbency, a bladder pad can be worn inside absorbent underwear, offering an extra layer of protection.Alternatively, for heavier leakage or peace of mind, opt for a higher absorbency product like an adjustable tab brief, which is designed to handle more fluid. To safeguard furniture and bedding, especially overnight, always use bed pads or underpads. Finally, ensuring the correct fit and protection level is paramount; this includes considering bariatric sizes for larger body types to guarantee optimal coverage and prevent gaps that can lead to leaks.
Bladder pads are an excellent solution for managing light to moderate urinary incontinence, offering discreet and effective protection. Designed to be worn inside your regular, non-absorbent underwear, these pads feature a waterproof backing that prevents leaks, making them ideal for daily use or as needed depending on your symptoms. They're a comfortable and convenient option for those experiencing mild to moderate bladder leakage, providing peace of mind throughout the day.
For individuals managing heavy urinary or bowel incontinence, booster pads are an invaluable tool for significantly increasing the absorbency and protection of existing incontinence underwear. Unlike bladder pads, which have a waterproof backing and are worn in regular underwear, booster pads feature a unique "flow-through" backing. This design allows them to be placed inside absorbent underwear (like pull-ons or tab briefs), where they absorb initial leaks and, once saturated, permit additional fluid to pass through to the main garment. This synergistic approach effectively boosts the overall capacity, making them ideal for daily use, extended wear at nighttime, or when traveling and needing extra security between changes.
For comprehensive protection against heavy urinary or bowel incontinence, underpads (also known as bed pads or chux) are an indispensable solution, providing an additional layer of defense for furniture and surfaces. Unlike body-worn absorbent products, underpads are designed to be placed on top of various surfaces such as mattresses, car seats, wheelchairs, or other furniture, effectively safeguarding them from leaks. They are ideal for travel and we recommend keeping a few spares in the car.
Recognizing a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in older adults can be challenging due to the frequent absence of classic symptoms seen in younger individuals. Instead of typical signs like painful or frequent urination, older adults often present with vague and atypical symptoms such as sudden confusion, disorientation, increased agitation, lethargy, or even falls. This altered mental status can easily be mistaken for other age-related conditions like dementia, delaying proper diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, older adults may have a blunted immune response, leading to a lack of fever, which is a common indicator of infection in younger populations. These subtle and non-specific symptoms make it crucial for caregivers and healthcare providers to be vigilant for any sudden changes in an older adult's behavior or functional status, as these could be the primary indicators of an underlying UTI.
Sudden change in cognitive function
Confusion
Hallucinations
Lethargy
Difficulty concentrating
Memory loss
Delusions
Agitation
Aggressive behavior
Decreased appetite
Frequent falls
Questions about Incontinence & Toileting? We’re here for you!
Our friendly and highly trained Care Team is available to answer any questions. Call (800) 696-CARE or send an email to support@carewell.com. They can make product recommendations, address your concerns, and make your new role easier.
There are dozens of incontinence products on the market, but what are the best adult diapers? This is an important question, especially if you care for someone with bladder or bowel control issues.
Medically Reviewed by Kiera Powell, R.N.
Living with incontinence can bring challenges, but finding the right incontinence bed pads can offer significant comfort and peace of mind. This comprehensive guide from Carewell focuses on the essential functionality and absorbency of these vital products, ensuring reliable protection against leaks for both day and night. We've carefully selected the best incontinence bed pads based on thorough research and valuable feedback from real users and caregivers, highlighting top-performing disposable and reusable underpads and detailing their absorbency levels, sizes, and unique features like anti-bacterial properties or discreet designs. Our goal is to help you confidently choose the perfect bed pad to enhance daily living, providing the effective protection and confidence you deserve.
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