New to Incontinence Care?
If you’re new to incontinence care, it can be difficult to know where to begin.
You may be choosing products for yourself. You may be helping a parent, partner or family member. You may be a caregiver or support worker trying to find something more suitable for the person you support.
Then you start shopping and encounter briefs, pull-ups, pads, liners, different absorbency levels, different sizes, daytime products, overnight products and skin-care supplies.
It can quickly become a lot of information.
The good news is that you do not need to know everything before you start. The goal is simply to understand the person's needs, choose the right type of protection, find the correct fit and make adjustments as you learn what works.
This guide will walk you through the basics.
Start With the Person, Not the Product
One of the easiest mistakes to make when shopping for incontinence products is starting with a brand or package instead of the person who will actually be using it.
Before choosing a product, consider:
- Is the person fully mobile, partially mobile or receiving assistance?
- Are they changing independently or with help?
- Is leakage light, moderate, heavy or primarily overnight?
- Is protection needed during the day, at night or both?
- Are they currently experiencing leaks?
- Do they have sensitive skin or other skin concerns?
- What size are they currently wearing?
- Have they used an incontinence product before?
There isn't one product that's right for everyone.
A product that works extremely well for an active adult may not be the easiest option for someone receiving changes in bed. Likewise, someone experiencing occasional bladder leakage may not require the same product as someone managing heavier bladder or bowel incontinence.
That's why choosing the type of product is an important first step.
Adult Briefs or Pull-Ups: What's the Difference?
These are two of the most common products you'll encounter.
Adult Briefs With Tabs
Adult briefs—sometimes simply called adult diapers—open at the sides and fasten using tabs.
This design can make changing easier when a person has limited mobility, receives caregiver assistance or needs a product that can be put on and removed without completely undressing from the waist down.
For example, Bloom Path's Prevail Air Daily Briefs are a tab-style option designed for everyday incontinence protection.
Briefs can be worth considering when:
- someone receives assistance with changes;
- changing a pull-up would be inconvenient;
- mobility is limited;
- the ability to adjust the fit using tabs is helpful.
Pull-Ups / Protective Underwear
Pull-ups are designed more like conventional underwear. They are pulled up and down rather than secured with side tabs.
They can be a convenient option for mobile individuals who can use the washroom and change more independently.
Neither style is automatically the "better" choice. Mobility, changing routine, leakage needs, fit and personal preference should guide the decision.
You can explore Bloom Path's adult pull-up underwear options and compare them with our adult briefs with tabs.
What About Pads and Liners?
Not everyone needs a full brief or pull-up.
Pads and liners can provide another form of protection depending on the person's needs and care routine.
Bloom Path's Prevail Pant Liners Overnight Pads are one example of the liner-style products available through our store.
The important thing is not to assume that a larger product is automatically necessary. Start by understanding how much protection is needed and when it's needed.
You can also browse Bloom Path's bladder control pads and liners to see the different product category.
Daytime and Overnight Needs May Be Different
One product does not necessarily have to handle every situation.
Someone who is mobile and changing regularly throughout the day may have different requirements overnight, when there can be longer periods between changes.
When comparing products, look at:
Daytime needs: mobility, discretion, changing frequency, independence and typical leakage.
Overnight needs: leakage level, sleeping position, how long the product will typically be worn and whether additional bed protection is appropriate.
If leaks consistently happen at night, simply changing to a larger size isn't always the answer. The issue could involve absorbency, product style, fit or how the product is positioned.
Getting the Size Right Matters
It can be tempting to choose a larger size when someone is experiencing leaks.
But larger does not necessarily mean more protection.
An incontinence product needs to fit properly around the waist, hips and legs. A poorly fitting product can leave spaces where leakage can occur.
Bloom Path's Help Center and general sizing information can give you a starting point. Keep in mind that sizing can vary between manufacturers and individual products.
When you're between sizes or changing brands, trying the product before ordering a larger quantity can be especially helpful.
Don't Forget Wipes and Skin Care
Incontinence care isn't only about choosing something absorbent.
Cleansing and skin care are also parts of a person's routine, particularly when changes happen multiple times throughout the day.
Bloom Path carries Attends Scented Adult Wipes for convenient personal cleansing during changes.
Another option is TENA ProSkin Fragrance-Free Cleansing Cream, which provides an alternative cleansing option as part of a personal-care routine.
If the person you're supporting has persistent redness, broken skin, pain, a rash that isn't improving or another concerning skin problem, product selection shouldn't replace appropriate medical assessment.
For Families and Caregivers: Make the Routine Work for Both of You
If you're helping someone else, choosing a product isn't only about absorbency.
Think about what changing actually looks like during an ordinary day.
Can the person stand safely? Can they help with dressing? Are changes happening in a washroom, chair or bed? Can they tell you when the product needs changing? Are nighttime changes disrupting sleep?
Those practical details can make a significant difference.
For example, someone may technically be able to wear a pull-up, but a tab-style brief may make assisted changes considerably easier. Someone else may strongly prefer pull-ups because they support a more familiar, independent toileting routine.
Whenever possible, involve the person using the product in these decisions.
Comfort, privacy and personal preference matter too.
You Don't Have to Buy a Full Case to Figure This Out
This is one of the most important pieces of advice for someone new to incontinence products:
Try products before committing to a large quantity whenever possible.
Different brands can fit differently even when the size printed on the package appears to be the same.
Bloom Path offers a Sample Care Kit for customers who want help finding suitable products.
Bloom Path's current Product Match Assessment considers factors including who the products are for, preferred product type, size, absorbency, daytime versus nighttime needs, mobility and skin concerns.
That information can help narrow down the choices rather than relying on trial and error with full-size orders.
Paying for Incontinence Supplies: What About ODSP?
If you or the person you're supporting receives the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), there may also be funding considerations.
Eligible medically necessary incontinence supplies can be covered through ODSP's Mandatory Special Necessities (MSN) benefit, subject to the program's requirements and approval.
Bloom Path works with ODSP clients and caseworkers. You can visit our ODSP Incontinence Supplies & Support page to learn about the Bloom Path process.
Receiving ODSP does not automatically mean every person or every product is eligible. Coverage decisions are made through ODSP, not Bloom Path.
A Simple Checklist for Getting Started
If this is your first time shopping for incontinence supplies, start with these questions:
- Who is the product for? Yourself, a family member or someone you support?
- How mobile are they? Independent, limited mobility or receiving significant assistance?
- What type of leakage are you managing? Light, moderate, heavy or overnight?
- When is protection needed? Daytime, nighttime or both?
- Which style makes changing easiest? Brief with tabs, pull-up, pad or liner?
- What size is needed? Measure rather than guessing whenever possible.
- Are other care products needed? Consider wipes, skin care and bed protection as part of the overall routine.
- Can you try samples first? Testing fit and comfort can prevent purchasing a larger quantity of something unsuitable.
You don't have to solve every part of incontinence care on the first day.
Start with the person's needs, try an appropriate product, pay attention to fit and leakage, and adjust the routine as you learn.
We're Here When You Need Help
Whether you're shopping for yourself, helping a parent or partner, supporting a family member or working as a caregiver, being new to incontinence care can come with a lot of questions.
That's normal—and asking questions is often the fastest way to find a better solution.
You can browse Bloom Path's incontinence products, visit our Help Center, or start with a Sample Care Kit if you're not sure which product to choose.
The goal isn't to find the biggest or most expensive product.
It's to find a care routine that works for the person using it.
