It's called a what?! (Or, your indispensable glossary of incontinence products.)
Aug 01 '01 (Updated Dec 20 '01)
The Bottom Line If you are new to incontinence problems, the products and terms used within this industry can be overwhelming. This glossary of 68 common terms will help you get started!
This is Part 1 in a series of glossaries I'm writing about incontinence. If you see something missing from this list, simply send me an email with a brief description of the product. I'll review your idea and then add it to the list!
[Items are listed alphabetically. Italicized words can be found elsewhere within the list.]
Absorbent Core - the absorbent material used within incontinence aids that absorbs liquids. Also known as padding.
Absorbent Panel - the area of an incontinence aid that contains the majority of the absorbent core.
Absorb-Loc - a brand name for the absorbent core used within the Depends product line.
Adult Diapers - a common term for some incontinence products due to their resemblance to children's diapers. Please refer to briefs for more information.
Adult Pull-Ups - a common term for some incontinence products due to their resemblance to children's training pants known as Pull-Ups. Please refer to protective underwear for more information.
Attends - brand name for a common product line of incontinence aids (owned by Paper-Pak).
Baby Wipes - moist disposable towels that are used to clean babies after their diapers have been soiled. This product is just as useful for adults, and should be considered as a definite requirement for quick and easy changes. I would recommend buying a travel-pack to carry with you at all times, and simply refill this pack from a bulk package you keep at home. Adult versions of this product have been created and are known as washcloths. However, due to the extra cost and low availability of washcloths, it's my opinion that baby wipes are a better alternative.
Bed Pad - please refer to underpads for more information.
Briefs - a type of incontinence product used for severe/complete bladder incontinence, and the only effective protection for bowel incontinence. Briefs are essentially enlarged children's diapers, with small modifications to accommodate the larger size (i.e. additional sticky tapes). Briefs are the most effective form of incontinence protection, but arguably the most noticeable. Also known as adult diapers, fitted briefs, and nappies.
Button Straps - a product used with some disposable undergarments as a way to hold them in place. Button straps can be reused even though the undergarment is disposable.
Cloth Briefs - a reusable form of incontinence protection that may be washed and used again. Washable cloth briefs must be used with overpants in order to be effective. Contoured pre-shaped cloth briefs are usually closed with Velcro or snaps, whereas folded cloth is usually closed with safety pins. Please refer to briefs for more information.
Concealer - an article of clothing that is worn like an undershirt but wraps through the legs and snaps closed in the crotch area. This prevents the shirt from lifting to reveal incontinence products while bending over or sitting down. The snaps allow for easy changes to soiled incontinence aids. Concealers are most commonly used with briefs. Also known as a onesie, diaper shirt, diaper vest, or one piece underwear.
Confidence - brand name for a common product line of incontinence aids (owned by Paper-Pak).
Control Clamp - a mechanical device, usually made of plastic, that pinches the penis to prevent leakage.
Depends - brand name for a common product line of incontinence aids (owned by Kimberly-Clark).
Diaper Pins - please refer to safety pins for more information.
Diaper Shirt - please refer to concealer for more information.
Diaper Vest - please refer to concealer for more information.
Disposable Briefs - a disposable form of incontinence protection that is discarded with each use. Please refer to briefs for more information.
Disposable - a general reference to incontinence aids that are discarded after each use.
Elastic Leg Gathers - please refer to leg gathers for more information.
Elastic Waistband - please refer to waistband for more information.
Fitted Briefs - please refer to briefs for more information.
Fix Pants - please refer to knit pants for more information.
Gel-Based Absorbent - refers to the type of absorbent used within incontinence aids. Please refer to sodium polyacrylate for more information.
Grip Tabs - please refer to sticky tapes for more information.
Guards - a type of incontinence aid for mild to moderate bladder incontinence in men. Disposable guards usually have a sticky backing and are placed within fabric underwear. When soiled, they can be discarded and replaced with a new one in the same underwear. Similar products for women are referred to as liners or pads.
Inserts - an absorbent product that is most commonly inserted within briefs to increase the amount of liquid they can hold (i.e. a piece of thick cotton fabric inserted within a cloth brief). This product can be washable or disposable.
Knit Pants - a washable/reusable product that resembles fabric underwear, but is specifically designed to help hold liners and guards in place. Also known as fix pants and mesh pants.
Kufguards - a brand name for the leak shields used within the Tranquility incontinence line.
Leak Barriers - please refer to leak shields for more information.
Leak Shields - soft fabric barriers that are found within the interior of briefs to guard against side leakage (both urine and feces). These shields lift up between the legs and the crotch and are especially effective in preventing leaks while sitting down.
Leg Gathers - an elastic ruffled portion around the legs/groin area found on most disposable briefs. Can also be found on some contoured cloth briefs. Leg gathers help prevent leaks and are significantly more comfortable then briefs without this feature. Also known as elastic leg gathers, and Lycra leg gathers.
Liners - a type of incontinence aid for mild to moderate bladder incontinence in women. Disposable liners usually have a sticky backing and are placed within fabric underwear. When soiled they can be discarded and replaced with a new one in the same underwear. Also known as pads. Similar products for men are referred to as guards.
Lycra Leg Gathers - please refer to leg gathers for more information.
Mesh Pants - a type of knit pant that provides breathing abilities. Please refer to knit pants for more information.
Molicare - brand name for a common product line of incontinence aids which are highly recognized for their excellent absorbency (owned by Accurate Medical Equipment).
Nappy - a common European term for diaper. For example, adult diapers are often referred to as adult nappies in Europe. Please refer to briefs for more information about this type of product.
One Piece Underwear - please refer to concealer for more information.
Onesie - please refer to concealer for more information.
Overnight - a general reference to incontinence aids that have increased absorbency for nighttime usage.
Overpants - an article of clothing that resembles underwear, but is made of plastic or nylon and worn over washable briefs to prevent leakage. Breathable nylon overpants allow air to pass through, but are not as effective as waterproof overpants. Also known as waterproof pants, plastic pants, and sometimes diaper covers.
Padding - please refer to absorbent core for more information.
Pads - please refer to liners for more information.
Peach Mat - a brand name for the absorbent core used within the Tranquility produce line.
Perma-Dry - a brand name for the absorbent core used within the Attends product line.
Plastic Pants - please refer to overpants for more information.
Poise - brand name for a common product line of incontinence aids (owned by Kimberly-Clark).
Promise - brand name for a common product line of incontinence aids. This brand was purchased by SCA Hygiene Products and the Promise name is in the process of being changed to Tena on these products their packaging.
Protective Underwear - derived from children's training pants, protective underwear has a soft, cloth-like cover and must be pulled on as normal underwear would be. Although they are less noticeable then briefs, pants must be removed first before putting on another pair -- making them difficult to change in public washrooms. They can be removed, however, by simply tearing the sides. Designed for moderate to heavy bladder incontinence, this product is NOT suitable for bowel incontinence. Also known as adult pull-ups, training pants, and sometimes simply as pants.
Safety Pins - large steel pins, sometimes with a locking head, used to close and hold cloth briefs in place. Also known as diaper pins, and sometimes baby pins.
Serenity - brand name for a common product line of incontinence aids (owned by SCA Hygiene Products).
Sodium Polyacrylate - a common gel-based absorbent used within children's diapers and incontinence aids. Popular for it's ability to absorb large quantities of liquid with relatively small amounts of absorbent, thus creating thinner products. It has, however, been linked to several serious health related side-effects.
Sticky Tabs - please refer to sticky tapes for more information.
Sticky Tapes - sticky tapes are most commonly found on briefs and allow for an adjustable fit while keeping the product in place. Also known as sticky tabs, grip tabs, or simply tapes.
Super Absorbent Gels - refers to a type of absorbent used within incontinence aids. Please refer to sodium polyacrylate for more information.
Tapes - please refer to sticky tapes for more information.
Tena - brand name for a common product line of incontinence aids (owned by SCA Hygiene Products).
Training Pants - a common term for some incontinence products due to their resemblance to children's training pants. Please refer to protective underwear for more information.
Tranquility - brand name for a common product line of incontinence aids (owned by Principle Business Enterprises).
Undergarment - a general reference to incontinence aids that are worn alone as opposed to products that are worn within existing underwear. Therefore, a brief is an incontinence undergarment.
Underpads - act as an absorbent/protective blanket. Underpads are large and flat with an absorbent side and a waterproof side. Underpads are put beneath incontinent individuals to prevent leakage onto furniture (most commonly beds). Can be used alone for mild incontinence, but is often used in addition to other protection as an added safety measure (i.e. beneath an individual who is already wearing a brief). Also known as bed pads.
Waistband - an elastic ruffled portion at the front and back of some disposable briefs. Can also be found on some contoured cloth briefs. Waistbands help prevent leaks and are significantly more comfortable then briefs without this feature. Also known as elastic waistbands.
Wash Cream - a cream applied to an individual to help clean and moisturize skin after an incontinence aid has been soiled.
Washable - a general reference to incontinence aids that may be washed and used again.
Washcloths - moist disposable towels that are used to clean an individual after an incontinence aid has been soiled. Washcloths are nothing more then a larger and more expensive version of children's baby wipes, therefore I would recommend using baby wipes instead.
Waterproof Pants - please refer to overpants for more information.
Wetness Indicator - a colored strip most commonly found on briefs that either disappears or changes color to indicate the product is wet and needs to be changed.
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