Incontinent patients lose control of their bladder and anus, making it impossible for them to contain pee or excrement until they reach the restroom. This can be quite embarrassing, but the issue does not end there. Incontinent people are more likely to develop bedsores, which can be challenging to treat.

What can you do to assist someone in such a situation? The goal of any action should be to create an environment that prevents a pressure sore from developing and fosters the healing of the pressure sore.

This is something that MERINO WOOL can do!

Who Are Incontinent Patients?

Incontinence is the inability to control the release of feces (fecal incontinence) or the flow of urine from the bladder (urinary incontinence). Incontinence can affect men and women of any age, although it is more common in the elderly and those with chronic health conditions.

Urinary incontinence is not a disease but a symptom of serious health issues. It usually occurs as a result of some other health issue. Urinary incontinence can be of four types depending on the symptoms: Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI), Overactive Bladder (OAB), Mixed Incontinence (SUI and OAB), and Overflow Incontinence.

Fecal incontinence is of two types: urge fecal incontinence and passive fecal incontinence. In urge fecal incontinence, you have the urge to poop but are unable to suppress it until you reach a bathroom. On the other hand, in passive fecal incontinence, you do not notice that mucus or excrement is leaking from your anus.

Incontinence is inconvenient but treatable. If you have incontinence (urine or fecal), talk to your doctor, and he may be able to treat it quite simply. Meanwhile, you should take extra care of your diet and hygiene.

Why Should You Use Urine Resistant (UR) Merino Wool For Incontinent Patients?

Taking care of an incontinent patient can be difficult, especially if the patient is confined to a bed or wheelchair. Incontinent patients who are restricted to a bed or wheelchair have a high risk of developing bed sores. Therefore, you should use UR products to enhance their comfort and avoid bed sores.

Furthermore, regular sheepskins are not tanned to be "Urine Resistant". Therefore, always look for the “UR'' on the stamp. When incontinent patients use non -UR sheepskins, the wool will fall out, and the leather will deteriorate. Although UR products are a bit more expensive, they are a wise investment. The product will last much longer while also being effective at preventing pressure sores.

In addition to this, the following are some reasons why it is a wise idea to invest in Medical Sheepskins that are Urine Resistant.

● Easy Spillage Cleanup– If you are using a UR product, wipe up any drips or spills with a damp cloth. There is usually a very small seepage into the pile due to the very high density of the wool fibers.

● Washable— When a product becomes smelly or has had a significant spill, it must be washed. Machine wash on the Wool or Gentle cycle, then rinse it twice. Woolskin is the most effective detergent for cleaning and disinfecting UR Medical Sheepskin items. Woolskin will condition and sanitize the wool product at the same time. Tea Tree Oil, a natural antiseptic, is found in woolskin. For every 2lb or kilogram of wool product, use 50mL  of Woolskin.

● Drying— If you air-dry sheepskin products, they will last significantly longer. To dry, hang them on a drying rack or the back of a chair. The drying time is normally around 24 hours. Do not place it in direct sunlight or in front of a heat source. Some items can be tumble dried at a low temperature. One drawback of this method is that the wool may felt.

Down-Under Wool’s Urine Resistant (UR) Products

If a pressure sore  is near the tailbone, diapers are recommended. Diapers will negate some of the advantages of wool, but they are required in most cases. To preserve the mattress, use an Incontinence Disposable Bed Pad, often known as a "blue pad." These are normally placed under the wool pad.

Down-Under Wool’s UR products are urine resistant, can absorb around 30% moisture of their weight without feeling wet, and will not damage your mattress. 

Down-Under Wool’s products do not only provide moisture absorption but are also effective for additional comfort, pressure reduction, and maintaining blood flow. 

Down-Under Wool’s Urine Resistant (UR) Products include:

●M102- Australian Medical Sheepskin AS4480.1 — Natural Shape Overlay (28" x 38")

●M102C- Australian Medical Sheepskin AS4480.1 — Rectangular Overlay (24" x 38" )

●M103XD- Pressure Care Assistant — Side Flaps (12" x 26")

●M105XD- Pressure Smart Cushion-It — Wheelchair Pad

●F103A- Hospital Wool Fleece Seat Pad — (18" x 20")

●F103B- Hospital Wool Fleece Seat Pad — (18" x 36")

●F103C- Hospital Wool Fleece Bed Pad — (30" x 60")

●SC104- Australian Medical Sheepskin AS4480.1 — (30" x 60")

●M102XD- Pressure Smart XD Overlay — (26" x 40")

●M128AS- Australian Medical sheepskin Wheelchair Seat Pad — (17" x 18")

●M118- Lambswool Dialysis Pad — (30" x 60")

Visit medicalsheepskins.com to find more UR products imported by Down-Under Wool.

The Bottom Line

Incontinent people are unable to control body waste elimination. For that reason, they are more susceptible to getting bedsores. Therefore, you should use Urine Resistant (UR) products (bed pads, seat pads, overlays, etc.) for incontinent patients to avoid the formation of rashes or bedsores.