Tag Archives: Total Home Care Supplies

Our Most Absorbent Adult Diapers

Posted by on December 15, 2014 under BladderMatters | Be the First to Comment

Absorbency diapers

The two main qualities that one should look for first in an adult diaper are comfort and absorbency. And both have a lot to do with fit. A diaper that is the wrong size will not feel right on the body. It’s important to base the size on waist size, but also where the diaper is hugging the body. Some people like having a more high-rise brief, others low-rise. As for absorbency, a diaper that is the wrong fit will not absorb properly. Do not assume that a larger diaper will absorb more liquid. All high-absorbency diapers will do their job, no matter their size, if they fit correctly. A correct fit will keep leaks to a minimum.

Many of our available products offer a variance of incontinence protection. But today we’re taking a look at the adult diapers that offer the most absorbency:

First Quality Nu-Fit Adult Briefs – The cloth-like back sheeting makes these diapers comfortable, low noise and allows more air to the area.

Per-Fit Adult Briefs – Featuring OdorGuard technology – all liquid is absorbed and trapped before becoming a problem.

First Quality Prevail Adult Bariatric Brief A – QUICK WICK™ with MaxSoft pulls the moisture quickly into the core of the diaper (also available in larger size B).

Depend Protection with Tabs Briefs – The Ultra Absorb-Loc® protection means leaks are no longer a worry.

Tranquility ATN (All-Thru-the-Nite) Brief – The absorbency means your skin is not compromised when wearing overnight.

Different Types of Skin Cleansers for Incontinence

Posted by on December 12, 2014 under BladderMatters | Be the First to Comment

Skin cleansers for perineal skin.

There are basically two different types of wash for sensitive skin that gets exposed to urine and feces, or is rubbed against diapers and pull-ups. These comprise of liquid washes that do not need to be rinses and disposable washcloths.

We offer several types of no-rinse wash on TotalHomeCareSupplies.com. The advantages of these types of washes are that a trip to the shower is not necessary. Many of these washes can be sprayed onto a moistened washcloth and then used on the area. Some items, such as Medline’s No-Rinse Shampoo and Wash can be used for both the body and the hair, eliminating the need for a shower for those who are bedridden. There are also no-rinse washes that are specifically for those with sensitive skin, like the FNC Medical Ca-Rezz Gentle No-Rinse Wash. For those looking for a combination cleanser and cream, the Tena Skin Caring Wash Cream protects, cleans and moisturizes the skin.

For those looking for a disposable washcloth to use after removing a used diaper, or to use as an alternative to a diaper, we offer several types and brands. The Prevail Adult Incontinence Washcloths are enhanced with lotion for better skin health and are very strong, meaning they won’t break up during use. The Sage Comfort Bath Cleansing Washcloths contain everything needed for a gentle skin soothing bath: moisturizers and mild, no-rinse cleansers. For those individuals who are looking for a travel pack of washcloths to take on the road, Tranquility offers packages with sixteen wipes each.

What product or products have you found the most success with when it comes to skin cleansers for those with incontinence? Feel free to tell us below, or review any of the above products on their individual pages by clicking on their links.

Ways People Become Incontinent

Posted by on December 11, 2014 under BladderMatters | Be the First to Comment

Reasons for light bladder leakage.

Many people assume that incontinence is a natural part of aging (just as many people think that dementia is a natural part of aging). But both are not an automatic response of the body and mind to getting older, though the two afflictions are related to one another.

Temporary incontinence can occur from a matter of issues. Some people who have been able to drink coffee, tea and alcohol without a problem their whole lives can become more sensitive to it as they age, and the effect of that sensitivity can be incontinence. Some medical conditions can create incontinence issues, such as urinary-tract infections (which can not only create incontinence in the elderly, but a host of confusing behavioral problems). To keep urinary-tract infections at bay, those that are susceptible should be sure to stay well-hydrated (though this sounds counter-intuitive to keeping continent, drinking too little water can irritate the bladder and cause incontinence). Constipation can be another reason for temporary incontinence.

Dementia can cause incontinence for a variety of reasons. Those with dementia who still get the “urge” to go can start on their way to the bathroom and get distracted or lost. Some people with later stage Alzheimer’s have damage to the parts of their brain that tells them that they need to go. Additionally, all the steps that it takes to use the restroom: finding it, removing clothing, staying long enough to urinate, can be overwhelming to someone with dementia.

Other reasons for incontinence can be weakened pelvic floor muscles, often caused by pregnancy and childbirth. Some medications can cause incontinence, which can oftentimes be easy to fix by switching types or changing the dosage. Being overweight or having an injury, such as a spinal cord injury, can cause incontinence.

While some of these reasons for incontinence cannot be cured, the incontinence can be managed. Perhaps it’s as easy as using a pull-up at night or having an underpad ready on a favorite chair. The number one reason that the elderly move into nursing homes is because their carer cannot manage their incontinence. But with communication with the caree’s doctor, supplies, and patience, the incontinent individual may be able to stay in place.

Winter Activities for You and Your Baby

Posted by on December 10, 2014 under Everything Baby | Be the First to Comment

Entertaining an infant

When it’s cold out, it can be pretty stressful to be inside your house all day with your young babe. Time passed walking around the neighborhood, and all the exploring and exercise opportunities those walks brought can be missed during the long winter months. But there are many ways to keep entertained, fit and busy while indoors, with just a few supplies and some imagination!

  • Music

Find a CD that has some songs you know well. Sing along with it and maybe even throw in a few dance moves that you do with your baby on your hip. They’ll love to hear you sing (singing can be exciting or soothing, often the perfect thing to do while changing your baby’s diaper). And all the dancing will get you both some exercise! And if you’re cold, it will warm you both up!

  • Crafts

Don’t get out the glue gun! When crafting with babies, it’s a much simpler process. It’s mostly exploring different material around your home. Paw through some cotton balls, or simply give them a large piece of ice to touch. Be sure to watch your child closely if they’re partial to putting small items in their mouths. Asia, the writer of the blog “Fun at Home with Kids” has over 50 ideas creative ideas for babies.

  • The Mall

When walking around outdoors is just too cold, but you’re both feeling restless, head to the mall! Your baby is too young to drag you into the candy store, so you can make excellent time walking from one end to another. And if you have an item or two you needed to pick up anyway, even better!

What is some advice you have about how to keep the both parents and babies entertained when the snow is piling up?

The Benefits of Pets for Seniors

Posted by on December 4, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Dogs and cats for seniors

Pets can benefit every person. Studies have proven time and again that just petting an animal can calm a person and lower their blood pressure. And you don’t even need to own an animal to pet them! But the effects of an animal in your home go beyond having a furry friend to nuzzle. Pets provide companionship, something that many seniors can begin to lose as their mobility declines.

The Pets for the Elderly Foundation points out that when seniors own pets, their need to visit their doctors declines, and they have a good excuse to get active. Seniors who can still take a short walk around the block may be more inclined to do so when there’s a dog who needs to go out. Those who do not have that much mobility can get a smaller dog that only needs to use the yard, or a cat that can use a litter box. The benefits will still exist, such as being more sociable – an animal draws others near to chat.

It is, however, very important to think of the details.

  • What is the age and breed of the pet?
    Smaller dogs are often seen as more manageable, but many breeds need lots of exercise. A kitten or puppy is very cute, but they are quite active and sometimes hard to train.
  • Who will care for the pet when the senior is no longer able to?
    This is a good question to answer before the senior gets the pet, so everyone is prepared.
  • What are the annual costs of keeping the animal?
    While big dogs may be mellower than medium or small-sized dogs, they also eat more. Also consider getting pet health insurance for the animal – it’s often much less expensive than an unexpected surgery down the road.

As long as you have the answers to the above, and everyone’s in agreement, a pet can be a wonderful companion to a senior or a senior couple. Are there other tips that caregivers should keep in mind before placing a pet with a senior? If you have them, we’d love to hear them in the comment section below.

Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week

Posted by on December 2, 2014 under Ostomy Care, Resources | Be the First to Comment

IBD Week

December 1st marked the beginning of IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) Week, also known as Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week. It’s a week to learn more about the diseases, spread knowledge about them and support those afflicted. The goal is to end Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis, two diseases that are actually increasing year over year. There may be a variety of reasons why that is happening, but more research is needed.

You may be asking what Crohn’s and Colitis are, or how they are different or similar. Check out the infographic below, created byThe Great Bowel Movement:

IBD Week

Do you have IBD? Do you know someone with either disease? What are suggestions you have for how spread the word about finding a cure?

Keeping Seniors Warm This Winter

Posted by on December 1, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Elder warmth

Our first suggestion goes hand in hand with keeping warm this winter, but has so much more to do with keeping safe: make sure your home has carbon monoxide alarms. These alarms will be lifesavers if your home or your senior’s home has a gas leak. These leaks are usually due to furnace issues, but can happen in a variety of other ways. Most carbon monoxide alarms are around $20 and they and their battery have a life of around eight years.

So now that your senior is safe, let’s make sure they’re comfortable. While younger people may think nothing of taking off their coat at home and spending the evening in a long-sleeved shirt, older people get colder more easily. This can be due to muscle and fat loss. Make sure your senior has plenty of sweaters around, along with lots of throws. And keep in mind that regular sweaters might prove too tough to put on and take off without help. Some seniors find cardigans much easier to navigate. Make sure to check oft-worn items regularly, to see if there are holes or if they need a wash. As eyesight gets worse, seniors may not notice smaller flaws.

Watch out for space heaters. These should not be left on for long periods of time, or left unattended. While it may seem like it makes more sense to just heat the one room where your senior spends the most amount of their time, if they have a small home or apartment, having the central heat on instead might prove less expensive. To be sure, you would have to try out each option for a month, and compare the electric bill to the heating bill at the end. But it is definitely safer to use the central heating than a space heater, which can be knocked over or forgotten.

What are some tips you use to keep your senior, or yourself, warm when the temperature drops? It’s already been quite cold across the country this season, so we’d love to hear more ideas.

Open Health Care Enrollment on HealthCare.gov

Posted by on November 27, 2014 under Caregiver Corner, Resources | Be the First to Comment

The Affordable Care Act

Between now and February 15th of next year, everyone can enroll for health care under the Affordable Care Act by using HealthCare.gov. This applies to everyone enrolling for the first time. For those that have a health care plan under this act already, they can renew their plan or change it. Anyone who does not make any changes will be automatically reenrolled, but there may be some changes to their premiums.

If one isn’t receiving health care through their job or a family member, HealthCare.gov is a great place to start looking. All plans are crafted to be affordable, and many of them qualify one for a premium tax credit. Additionally, if a person isn’t sure if they qualify for a state Medicaid program, they can also head to HealthCare.gov and apply. If they do qualify, they will be enrolled in that state’s Medicaid program, and if they don’t, they’ll be able to find coverage through the Affordable Care Act.

For those currently enrolled, the infographic below, by America’s Health Insurance Plans, may be helpful:

2015OpenEnrollment_Infographics_Small_current

Are you currently enrolled in the Health Insurance Marketplace? Do you have any tips for navigating the system for those just starting? Please comment below.

Special Needs Resources

Posted by on November 24, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Websites, communities and more for disabled children

The Internet has proven to be an enormously helpful resource to parents. Especially to parents of special needs children, whom have created communities of support and sharing. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at all the places all over the ‘Net that can help out parents of children with special needs.

Articles:

  • The Huffington Post has quite a few articles about kids with special needs
  • Mashable has less articles for parents of special needs kids, but they’re quality, and there will likely be more in the future
  • Some local papers and magazines have special needs sections, but the one on L.A. Parent’s site is particularly commendable

Blogs:

  • Love that Max is written by a mom raising her son, who has cerebral palsy
  • Chasing Rainbows was started to keep this mom’s family updated on her son, Gavin, who had an un-diagnosed genetic condition. Gavin has, very sadly, since passed away, but her blog remains a resource for those with special needs children
  • Fighting Monsters with Rubber Swords is by a dad who is searching for answers about his daughter’s rare disease

Websites:

You can find many of these resources, and more, on our Pinterest board: Special Needs Resources.

What are the best sites you’ve found that have tips, advice and support for parents of special needs kids? We’d love to hear about them in the comments below.

Alternate Uses for Underpads

Posted by on November 22, 2014 under BladderMatters | Be the First to Comment

Using chux for babies and pets

TotalHomeCareSupplies.com has a variety of underpad (also known as chux) brands and sizes. The Prevail underpads come in three sizes (along with an available sample), and we also have underpads from Tena, Attends, Ideal Care and Lew Jan Textiles. These items are generally thought of as being used for older adults who are incontinent, but they actually can be used in a wide variety of ways.

One way is for smaller people.  A lot of new parents swear by using underpads on their diaper changing tables. Putting these on top of the changing pads means less laundry. As one reviewer said, “babies oftentimes love to go when that fresh air hits their skin.” Having an underpad there means they are welcome to take advantage of that diaper break. Additionally, when your child is a little older, they can be used for that in-between time of toilet training. Or, when they’re sick, you can use them on the bed for when you’re worried about getting vomit or sweat on the mattress.

Another way is for animals. “Wee wee” pads for puppies and older dogs can be a major convenience for those trying to house train a dog, those who need to let a dog relieve itself while home alone, or those with older dogs who have become incontinent. These pads will give you the same amount of absorbency and have an assortment of sizes. And they can be used for more than the canine world! They can also be used as bird cage liners, especially if the cage has a separate section under the bars. It is not recommended that you allow your bird to tear up the undepad with their beak, but if they’re separate from the pad, this may be the alternative to newspaper that you’ve been looking for.

What are some uses you’ve found for underpads, or, chux? We’d love to hear any and all suggestions.