Incontinence Management: A Crisis In Plain Sight

I find often when trying to help providers improve their quality and operational performance metrics, most of the time they are overlooking or ignoring a major foundational concept. Two-thirds of the clinical pathways or critical elements that CMS has sent forth often involve the incontinence ecosystem (See Figure 1). Incontinence, as stated in some of my previous articles, needs to be taken seriously when trying to improve overall quality. Read more.

Source: McKnight’s Long Term Care News, August 9, 2023

First Quality Introduces MaxSorb+ Zone For Bladder Control Pads

First Quality Products, Inc. is launching a new technology for bladder control pads called MaxSorb+ Zone, providing enhanced rapid absorption to help keep skin dry all day and support skin health. Pads that use First Quality’s MaxSorb+ Zone absorb up to 50% faster compared to previous Prevail bladder control pads. Read more.

Source: Nonwovens Industry, April 28, 2022

Tailoring Continence Management to Individual Needs in Residential Care

This observational study investigated the benefits of adopting a person-centred approach to the management of urinary incontinence and associated hygiene care. A trial was carried out in 12 residential care homes in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. Toileting, containment product selection, frequency and timing of changes, and personal hygiene routines were tailored to the needs of individual residents. Skin redness improved, there was less leakage and residents’ wellbeing improved. Containment product changes were easier to carry out, fewer containment products were used, and product costs were reduced. The adoption of person-centred care initiatives was seen to benefit all stakeholders – namely, residents, caregivers and the administration of the residential care facility. Read more.

Source: Nursing Times, March 7, 2022

EvidenceNOW: Managing Urinary Incontinence

In February 2022, AHRQ launched the Improving Nonsurgical Treatment of Urinary Incontinence among Women in Primary Care (INTUIT-PC). The initiative builds on AHRQ’s EvidenceNOW Model of external support to help primary care practices implement patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) on effective nonsurgical interventions for UI such as behavioral approaches, medications, and neuromodulation. The initiative will help close the gap between evidence and primary care practice in care for UI in women. Read more.

Source: U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, February 2022

Isolated and Alone: Nonprofits See Explosion of Need for Adult Incontinence Products

Before the pandemic and when she had the extra money, Lucy Jackson would sometimes go out to buy the adult incontinence products she needed to get through the day and night. But now, worried about catching the coronavirus, she rarely leaves her Newark, New Jersey, boarding house. To get supplies, she relies more on friends, family and the Modestly Cover Diaper Bank of Essex County, New Jersey. “During this pandemic, it’s been very, very difficult,” Jackson, 72, said. Read more.

Source: NBC Universal, March 8, 2021

Essity Launches Pilot of Digital Incontinence Solution

Hygiene and health company Essity, which makes TENA incontinence and skincare products, has launched a pilot program of its TENA SmartCare Change Indicator, a system that uses digital sensors and a smartphone app to reduce manual checks of incontinence patients. Cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this year, SmartCare Change Indicator notifies caregivers via smartphone when they should consider changing a patient’s TENA absorbent products. Read more.

Source: HME Business, October 29, 2020

Essity: A Hygiene And Health Powerhouse Is Spun-Off

Sweden’s Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget or SCA dates back to 1929 as a holding company for ten forestry businesses. Over the proceeding decades, SCA began acquiring various hygiene businesses although they remain the largest private land owner of forest land in Europe holding roughly 2.6 million hectares (6.4 million acres). Separating these two businesses made sense and hopefully will allow the true value of each to be realized. In 2016, Essity (OTC:ESSYY) accounted for 86% ($11.5 billion) of SCA’s total revenue so while SCA was originally founded as a forest products company, in reality, it was a health and hygiene business and had been for many years. It earned around $480 million and generated $790 million in owner earnings last year. Read more.

Source: Seeking Alpha, June 19, 2017

Majority of Incontinence Treatments Deliver Poor Results

Surgery is the most reliable method of treatment for incontinence – curing the condition in just over eight in ten cases; other types of treatment, meanwhile, do not deliver the same kind of success. These are the findings of a comprehensive systematic overview of cure rates for the treatment of incontinence around the world during the last ten years. “Unfortunately we are not actually curing the condition in that many cases. Surgery aside, the results delivered are poor. And the problems are only going to get worse in the future because the population, as we know, is aging,” says Ian Milsom, Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Sahlgrenska Academy and Head of the Gothenburg Continence Research Center (GCRC). Read more.

Source: Science Daily, April 4, 2017

HARTMANN Group to Acquire P&G Incontinence Brand in Spain/Portugal

The HARTMANN GROUP, a leading international supplier of medical and hygiene products, announced today it plans to acquire Procter & Gamble’s Lindor — one of the most well-known adult incontinence brands in the Spain and Portugal professional channel. The transaction seeks to take place by end of second quarter of fiscal year 2017 and is subject to approval by local antitrust authorities. As part of the agreement, HARTMANN is slated to obtain all P&G assets associated with the Lindor product portfolio (Lindor, Salvacamas, Lindor Care, Lindor Pants), Intellectual Property, contracts with employees, as well as a 25,000-square metre manufacturing facility in Montornés, Spain. Read more.

Source: Yahoo Finance, March 2, 2017

The Foundation Hosts Round Table on Long-term Care, Assisted Living, and Incontinence

Incontinence in long-term care and in assisted living was discussed at the Round Table.

Chicago, Ill. (June 1, 2005) – In April 2005 the Simon Foundation for Continence launched its program on Aging 2005 by hosting a two day round table discussion about the state of incontinence care in long-term care and assisted living. Experts brought together from throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe focused on the impact of incontinence on residents of these facilities. The meeting, held in Chicago, was chaired by Professor Christine Norton, PhD, RN, from St. Mark’s Hospital (U.K.) and Mary Radtke Klein, President, Assisted Living Associates (Oregon), both members of the Simon Foundation’s Advisory Board.Continue reading→