The Cost of Incontinence

For sufferers of urinary incontinence, making sure you are always prepared and protected can be a costly job. The average individual with moderate urinary incontinence will use around two disposables a day. With each going for $1.30-1.50, they can expect to spend around $80 per month. However, if you are using more than two disposable incontinence pads per day or you require more expensive products with better absorption and performance, those numbers can quickly climb. In fact, if we project those numbers to a year’s time, it comes out to a total of nearly $1000 – money that could have been spent treating this problem.

What is my alternative?

Various disposable solutions exist for incontinence sufferers. Reusable incontinence pads can be purchased for a larger upfront investment but long-term cost effectiveness. Pads are made of various washable materials, some of the most popular including cloth, organic cotton and hemp.

Why reusable?

• Health- While disposable pads are largely comprised of cotton, manufacturers of washable incontinence products frequently use cloth in its place. However, you also have the option of choosing chemical-free organic products. By choosing organic products, you protect your body from materials that may have been treated with herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides. Additionally, you don’t run the risk of exposing yourself to toxic chemical residue.

• Environmental – Using and discarding countless disposable pads puts a real burden on the environment. By switching to reusable incontinence pads, you’re keeping plastic out of landfills and pollutants out of the environment.

• Quality- One large benefit of reusable products is that they can be created with custom sizing. Some cloth reusable products are created to be both self-sanitizing and also fast drying. Higher quality also translates to higher comfort, with a better fit and thus better performing product.

• Cost- Incontinence products are on average 6x more expensive than baby diapers or menstrual pads. Unlike menstrual pads which may be used a couple days out of the month, many incontinence sufferers have to wear them 24/7. It is suggested that incontinence sufferers purchase at least 6 reusable pads or briefs. While they cost about $20 each, reusable incontinence products are generally advertised to last for 300 uses. The yearly savings on reusable incontinence pads compared to disposables averages eight hundred dollars! Plus, they can be quickly and easily sanitized in your home, using just your washer and dryer.

By switching to washable incontinence products, you’ll have extra money to treat what is causing your incontinence. While incontinence issues are common, they are not just a normal part of aging – there are treatments that can help. To start treating the root cause of your incontinence, contact one of our professionals today for a consultation.