Here's one product in which less is more. When buying an adult diaper, you want one that suits you or your loved one's needs and nothing more. Extra features can add unnecessary bulk. Fortunately, as baby boomers age in an unprecedented population wave and are more concerned than previous generations about maintaining youthful activities and lives, they're demanding products that suit these needs. The adult diaper market has benefited from this.
What to Look for
The popular Gilbert Guides for senior care have an online presence (www.gilbertguide.com) with comprehensive advice for those in the market for diapers. Briefly, the features to consider include the inner core, leg gathers, frontal elastic/taping system and backing material. The inner core is the most important, consisting of a cottony product derived from wood to which Super Absorbent Polymer crystals have been added. The amount of SAP in the product will indicate how absorbent it will be. Transfer materials in the inner core help distribute the moisture, which is necessary to keep areas of the diaper from bunching up uncomfortably. Leg gathers can be found in single or double rows and provide added protection against leakage. The frontal system describes whether the brief is a pull-on or tape-on type. Tapes generally allow the user to put the garment on whether they're lying down or seated; some models allow for re-taping if you don't get it to fit right the first try. Backing material in protective underwear is cloth-like. In adult briefs, a layer of plastic that varies from thin to heavy is the backing material. The heavier the plastic, the more fluid they are able to hold. For thorough consumer and expert reviews, go to the roundup on www.consumersearch.com/www/family/adult-diapers/.
Common Pitfalls
Although many people like the convenience and discretion of ordering incontinence products online, make sure that the company will provide a sample for you to try before committing to a full order. Asking consumers to pay for the sample is standard. And the one sample you buy may cost more than you'll pay per-piece for a bulk order, the money you save by buying the right product the first time will save you in the long run. Order from a company or site that specializes in incontinence products to find the widest range of styles and, further, the one you need. Don't buy from an "invisible" source. Make sure that a staff is available to answer questions by phone (preferably with a toll-free number) or email.
