In 2020, an estimated 53 million adults in the U.S. have provided unpaid care to someone. This is up from 43.5 million five years earlier. This represents, in 2020, around 19% of the adult population. That is one person in every five. Disturbingly, this figure has also grown from 2015 when it was closer to 18%. And, it is set to continue increasing as the average age of the population rises.

Caregiving is a very demanding and responsible commitment. Demands are both physical and emotional. Usually when a person reaches the stage of requiring personal care, they have significantly reduced mobility or mental capacity. The physical burden of assisting such a person lead as normal a life as possible requires enormous strength and energy. The emotional toll of being exposed to these harrowing situations can easily cause health issues for the caregiver.

In numbers, 61% of caregivers have a full-time job. Almost half of all caregivers have suffered an adverse financial event at least once and around a quarter are experiencing deteriorating health themselves. And some are actually in poor health themselves. Don’t be under any illusion - caregiving is not easy! It's quite fair to say, then, that caregivers need all the help they can get.

*Statistics quoted above courtesy of the National Alliance for Caregiving.

Being a caregiver for a loved one with life-changing illnesses is a demanding responsibility. Often, the right equipment or aids will allow a patient to be a little more independent and require a little less assistance from their caregiver.

We will look at a collection of products that help reduce caregiving challenges. The products we discuss here are just some of the many options available. If you have any doubts, take a look around our website to see a full list of products and brands we offer.

Although there are many reasons why a person may become dependent on a caregiver, we will focus on incontinence in this article. Incontinence affects millions of people. In many cases, incontinence can, with the help of the correct products, be cured or greatly reduced.

Adult Diapers

Estimates for the incidence of incontinence in the US vary widely. Some estimates put the figure as high as about 10% of the population, or roughly 33 million people. Of course, not all of them will have incontinence to a debilitating degree. For most of those that do, adult diapers offer a simple but very effective solution.

Adult diapers eliminate or significantly reduce the risk of accidental leakages. The design of modern diapers provides high quality protection for a wide range of options. Active people can live a normal active life. Bedridden patients or those with reduced mobility need no longer suffer in discomfort.

Adult diapers are available in many different styles such as briefs with side tabs, pull-up disposable underwear, and belted undergarments. At LL Medico we stock several top brands including  Depend, TENA, Abena, Prevail, and Wellness.

If you’d like to read a much more detailed guide on adult diapers, you can go to The Ultimate Guide to Adult Diapers.

Plastic Pants

With adult diapers, it is very important to get a good fit; not only around the waste but also around the legs in the groin area. Since humans come in all shapes and sizes, diapers are really not a one-size-fits-all solution. If the patient does experience leakage, and you have tried various diaper types and sizes, it is well worth looking into plastic pants or diaper covers.

These are worn over the diaper and have elasticized bands around the waist and legs. They effectively trap any liquid that may leak through the diaper from time to time. Nowadays, they’re made from PVC or polyurethane, so they are thinner and lighter than their latex predecessors. They’re also much more suited to discreet situations as they do not have the characteristic rustle of latex pants.

Booster Pads or Incontinence Pads

We do not always live every day according to an identical and predictable schedule. Occasionally we do things on the spur of the moment. Or, we have occasional engagements or activities that are very different to the norm. In such cases, we are able to rely on booster pads or pant liners as a temporary supplement to our adult diapers.

Booster pads, as the name implies, are pads that we can use in conjunction with a diaper on occasions when we temporarily require extra absorbency. For example, when going out for dinner or attending a function that may go on for some time.

Incontinence liners may be used in the same way, but they can also be used on their own. On days when we need just a little assurance against an accidental dribble, we may use just the liner, inserted directly into snug fitting underwear.

Bed or Chair Pads

Incontinence does not affect only the person suffering from it. Uncontained leaks could spill through diapers onto furniture or mattresses creating a damage risk. Fortunately, this risk is quite easy to mitigate with a bed or chair pad. These are highly absorbent pads that act as a final buffer. It’s always a good idea to have a pad or two handy.

Gloves and Disposal Bags

Another two useful products to have on hand are gloves and disposal bags. This way, if you need to clean up an accidental leak, you can do so safely and efficiently. Being relatively inexpensive, gloves and bags should be standard items in your incontinence product inventory.

Wipes and Skin Cleansers

Urine contains many substances that can cause rashes and inflammation when in contact with the skin for extended periods. Whilst you may take every care to select the ideal diaper for the circumstances, something can always go wrong. There is a wide range of wipes, cleansers and antiseptic or anti-inflammatory ointments available. It’s almost essential to have some of these products readily available at home. It’s also advisable to have a travel kit for going out. You never know when you’ll need them.

Visit LL Medico for More Options

In closing, we have shown you some of the frightening statistics relating to caregivers. You may now have an idea of the magnitude of the burden – physical, financial and emotional, that a caregiver carries. This is not a battle that you should attempt to engage in without help.

If you’re a caregiver dealing with incontinence issues, we hope this list will help you to correctly select the essential supplies you need to have on-hand. We hope further that we have shown you how the other non-essentials can help to make your work a lot easier. For you as much as for your patient.

At LL Medico, we specialize in a variety of caregiving products such as incontinence supplies, disability aids, elderly care products, home supplies, and more. Our goal is to help make life easier for caregivers and care recipients. Our online catalog provides discrete protection that you will not find in a store. Be sure to check out our products at www.llmedico.com.