The process of producing urine, storing urine, and eliminating urine is amazingly complex.  It involves the function and co-ordination of the brain and the spinal cord, intact nerves and muscles, a functioning bladder, and the unobstructed flow of urine through the lower urinary tract.

Urinary incontinence is a devastating problem affecting some 10 million Americans.  The major approaches to the management of urinary incontinence are long-term efforts through an interdisciplinary approach.  A multitude of incontinence products play a vital role in the treatment and management of the various types of urinary incontinence.  There are many modalities of treatment which depend upon the “type” of urinary incontinence as well as the individual attributes of the patient.  Appropriate use of incontinence products are essential adjuncts to successful treatment and/or management of the incontinent person.

Many people with incontinence pull away from their family and friends.  They try to hide the problem from everyone, even their doctors.  The good news is that in most cases urinary incontinence can be treated and controlled, if not cured.  The bad news is that caregivers may not know that treatment is a choice.  They may think that nursing home care is the only answer for an older person with incontinence.

Incontinence does not happen because of aging.  It may be caused by changes in your body due to disease.  For example, incontinence may be the first and only symptom of a urinary tract infection.  Curing the infection may relieve or cure the problem.  Some drugs may cause incontinence or make it worse. If you are having trouble with incontinence, see your doctor.  Even if it can’t be completely cured, modern products and ways of managing incontinence can ease its discomfort and inconvenience.

HomeHealthDelivery.com can assist you with the inconvenience associated with incontinence. Contact one of our highly qualified consultants to discuss your current situation and to implement a care plan specifically deigned for your situation.

There are basically 2 types of adult diaper products for use with incontinence not including incontinent liners with mesh pants.  There are adult diapers with re-fastening tape tabs usually 2 per side and the pull up style disposable diaper undergarments.

There is no doubt that the tape tab diapers are more absorptive and are the product of choice when dealing with any type of bowel or fecal incontinence.  Pull On Adult Diaper types are usually used with more active adults with good mobility and ability to change the product themselves.

The disadvantage of Pull On Adult Diapers in this situation is that even though they have tear away sides for easy removal, you still have to remove your pants in order to put another pull up diaper on.

Tape tab diapers are difficult to put on correctly yourself or on another person for that matter.  The easiest way for you to guide the adult diaper product to ensure a good fit is to use the wetness indicator strip as a guideline.  Place the wetness indicator strip that runs the legnth of the diaper along the gluteal fold or (Butt Crack) and use this as the guide for keeping the diaper centered.  Then you can fasten the tape tabs and be confident that you will end up with the same amount of material on both sides.

My recommendation is to use a combination of products for different times of the day and changing daily activities.   The pull on diapers can be used during the day and the tape tab diapers can be used at night.  You should also try liner inserts without plastic backing as these can be used as booster pads for heavy wetters.

HomeHealthDelivery.com can provide you with a wide range of incontinence products to meet your needs.  If there is any product that we do not have please let us know and we will get it for you.

Transmission of an infectious superbug from dogs and cats to humans, and back again, is an increasing problem, a new study finds.

The superbug, a strain of bacteria known as MRSA, has evolved a resistance to antibiotics. It has long plagued hospitals but in recent years has become more common in homes. MRSA has even invaded beaches.

Only about two years ago, scientists began to seriously suspect pets were transmitting the bacteria.

In the July edition of The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Richard Oehler of the University of South Florida College of Medicine and colleagues lay out the latest thinking on MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and pets.

The infections can be transmitted by animal bites and most threaten young children, the researchers note.

Read more…Click Here.

What can you do to protect yourself?

Use GentleCare Non-Alcohol Foaming Instant Skin Sanitizer
Incorporating GentleCare into your daily life will provide a safe and effective means to preventing the spread of cross contamination between pet’s and human’s.

What is M.R.S.A.?
M.R.S.A. is a type of infection caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. These bacteria are commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Some strains of staph are resistant to a class of antibiotics such as methicillin (a synthetic form of penicillin) and thus called Methicillin-Resistant Staph aureus (or M.R.S.A.).

Who gets M.R.S.A.?
S. aureus (or Staph) including M.R.S.A. can be spread among people having close contact with an infected person. M.R.S.A. is almost always spread by direct physical contact and not through the air. Transmission may also occur through indirect contact by touching objects such as towels, clothes, door knobs, workout areas, or sports equipment
contaminated with the staph.

Where will I find M.R.S.A.?
Staph bacteria can live on the skin or in the nose of healthy individuals without causing any symptoms of disease. This is known as colonization. However, injury to the skin such as a scrape or cut can allow the bacteria to enter the skin and cause an infection.

M.R.S.A. is not confined to just healthcare facilities. Cases of M.R.S.A. infection in the community setting (e.g. Day care centers, schools, prisons) are called Community-Associated M.R.S.A. and have been on the rise and show no sign of slowing. Our children are at risk and it is up to us to protect them.

Now that you know the facts, what can you do to minimize the risks?

Use GentleCare Non-Alcohol Foaming Instant Skin Sanitizer
Incorporating GentleCare into your facility will not only protect our children from M.R.S.A., it will also reduce absenteeism due to colds, flu and other illnesses.

The Fresh, All Natural Way to Eliminate Tough Odors

My family and I use Citrus II every day and I absolutely love it. I keep one in my car, bathroom and kitchen area. I know that I don,t have to worry about the kids inhaling harmful chemicals found in all other air fresheners. Read the contents. Butane, Petroleum and other harsh and harmful chemicals that you would not want to inhale.

Citrus II can transform a room, or an entire building, into a healthy, fresh smelling environment by eliminating foul odors on contact! With this unique air fragrance, you can create a positive, relaxing atmosphere for patients, personnel and visitors . . .naturally!

Citrus II is 100% natural and contains only the pure essential oils of tree ripened citrus fruit specially formulated to preserve their distinctive fragrance in an environmentally safe, non-aerosol container.

Citrus II is totally effective for hospitals, physicians, dentist offices, nursing homes and private households. Environmentally safe, Citrus II eliminates the harsh odors of urine, feces, decubitus ulcers, labs and exam rooms. It will also eliminate may of the odors found in the home. Smoke, pet, food and more. Citrus II is the same formula as Citrus Magic and is safe to use everywhere – it’s non-toxic, hypo-allergenic and biodegradable.

So use Citrus II and see how fresh and pleasant your healthcare or home environment can be . . . for you and your patients and your family. Strong enough for healthcare…Safe enough for the home.

Find more information by clicking here.

What can I do to manage my incontinence while I try to get it under control?

When pharmacological and/or behavioral methods fail to manage urinary incontinence, various products are beneficial to contain urine, protect skin, and reduce odor.  The following are the most common products used in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home.

Catheters:
Indwelling (Foley), Straight (Intermittent), and External (condom) catheters have a place in the management of urinary incontinence. A flexible tube (indwelling catheter) can be put into the urethra (the canal that carries the urine from the bladder) to collect urine in a container. Long term catheterization although sometimes necessary creates many problems, including urinary infections. Men have the choice of an external collecting device (condom catheter). This is fitted over the penis and connected to a drainage bag.

Adult Diapers and Briefs:
These absorbent products are designed to hold large volumes of urine and are for individuals who are incontinent of urine and stool. Adult Briefs are designed and used similarly to diapers placed on infants. Briefs made of absorbent material similar to underwear may be preferred due to psycho-social reasons.

2-Piece Pants and Liners:
This product includes a pair of reusable cotton pants or disposable mesh type pants into which an absorbent liner is placed and secured. When soiled, the liner is discarded and the pant is laundered. The 2-piece pant and liner can be used for both urinary and fecal incontinence and may be preferred by the ambulatory patient.

Underpads:
This product is an absorbable pad which is placed on the bed beneath the patient’s mid-section. The underpad protects the linens and is commonly used for the incontinent bed bound patient and to protect the bedding. Underpads are available in disposable or reusable types.

Skin Cleanser:
These are non-soap products which contain a surfactant to loosen or emulsify urine/feces without irritation to the skin. Most available cleansers DO NOT need to be rinsed which is a desirable feature for the caregiver.

Washcloths and Wipes:
These are reusable or disposable cloths used to cleanse the patient’s skin after an incontinent episode. Cloths which minimize the amount of friction injury to the skin during cleansing are most desirable.

Moisture Barrier Ointments:
These topical skin products contain petrolatum or a similar substance which forms a protective, moisture resistant barrier on the skin. Application of a moisture barrier ointment after cleansing is recommended as a preventative skin care measure for the patient with incontinence.

Call us with any questions about the products we offer and if we do not have it and you want it, we will get it for you.

There are numerous treatments for the management of urinary incontinence.  The first and most important step in treating incontinence is to see a doctor for a complete medical exam.  The doctor will ask for a detailed history of your health and give you a physical examination.  The doctor may want to check urine samples and you may be referred to a urologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases of the urinary tract, or to a gynecologist, a specialist in the female reproductive system.  Proper assessment and diagnosis is crucial to the selection of an appropriate treatment plan and, subsequently, a favorable outcome.

The following is a summary of some of the more common methods to manage urinary incontinence: Treatment of urinary incontinence should be designed to meet your needs.  As a general rule, the least dangerous procedures should be tried first.  The many options include:

Kegal’s Exercises (Pelvic Muscle Exercises):
Stress incontinence responds very well to exercises which strengthen the pelvic muscles (Kegal’s Exercises).  These exercises can be done alone or in conjunction with biofeedback therapy.  These techniques can help you sense your bladder filling and help delay voiding until you can reach a toilet.

Bladder Irritants/Infection:
Elimination of bladder irritants and treatment of bladder infections can eliminate the bladder contraction associated with urge Incontinence.

Prompted Voiding/Bladder Drill:
Prompted voiding and bladder drill programs teach individuals to urinate “By the clock”.  Frequent, scheduled voiding helps to prevent or significantly reduces leakage for individuals with urge incontinence.

Medications:
Pharmacological manipulation or in conjunction with other methods of management can relieve symptoms.  There are drugs given to relax the bladder, contract the bladder, relax the bladder neck, and contract the bladder neck.  These drugs are prescribed according to symptoms and urinary tract pathology and medications are useful adjuncts in several types of incontinence.  A doctor can prescribe medicines to treat incontinence.  However, these drugs may cause side effects such as dry mouth, eye problems, or urine buildup.

Clean Intermittent Catheterization:
Clean intermittent catheterization can be performed by the individual to prevent urinary retention and/or to empty the bladder at scheduled time before leakage occurs.  This is particularly helpful for the individual with reflex incontinence.

Environmental Modification:
Easy access to toileting facilities through proximity, clothing alteration, and large, visible signs are helpful for the individual with functional incontinence.  Timed or scheduled voiding may also be used in conjunction with easing toilet access.  Caregivers actually escort the individual to the bathroom at designated intervals, usually chosen by assessing the person’s usual voiding routine.

Surgery:
This should be a last resort approach.  Sometimes surgery can improve or cure incontinence if it is caused by a structural problem such as an abnormally positioned bladder or blockage due to an enlarged prostate.  Implanting devices that replace or aid the muscles controlling urine flow has been tried in people with incontinence.

Urinary incontinence can run the gamut from light drainage of urine that moistens ones under- clothes to thorough saturation where large volumes of urine is expelled. The Agency For Health Care Policy and Research and the American Urological Association have determined six distinct “types” of urinary incontinence. Of utmost importance is the understanding that more than one “type” of incontinence can occur simultaneously in the same individual. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment of so called “mixed” incontinence is somewhat more challenging.

Stress Incontinence:
Stress incontinence occurs when some physical exertion such as exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting heavy objects, or other body movements that put pressure on the bladder and produces leakage of urine. The cause of stress incontinence is the weakening of the pelvic musculature which commonly occurs in women after having children and in post- menopausal women. It is the most common type of incontinence and can almost always be cured.

Urge Instability Incontinence:
In this type of incontinence, the bladder contracts spontaneously WITHOUT the control of the individual. This uncontrolled bladder contraction results in the leakage of urine. With urge incontinence, however, the individual has the sensation to urinate, but cannot reach the bathroom in time. Sensation is usually followed by immediate release of urine. Although healthy people can have urge incontinence, it is often found in people who have diabetes, stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis. It can also be a warning sign of early bladder cancer. In men, it is often a sign of an enlarged prostate.

Reflex Instability Incontinence:
In reflex incontinence, the bladder empties itself at unpredictable times causing gross leakage of urine. In this instance, however, the individual does NOT have sensation or urgency. Neurological disorders and injuries to the upper spinal cord are the most common reasons for reflex incontinence.

Overflow Incontinence:
Leakage or wetness occurs because the bladder is unable to empty effectively. This type of incontinence is associated with high residual volumes of urine after voiding. Individuals may also complain of nocturnia (urination at night) and the feeling that the bladder does not feel empty after urination. Some causes of overflow incontinence are chronic retention of urine and bladder outlet obstruction. In older men, this can occur when the flow of urine from the bladder is blocked.

Continuous Incontinence:
This type of incontinence is associated with leakage of urine proximal to the lower urinary tract. Continuous incontinence occurs with urinary fistula, birth defects of the urinary tract, and urinary diversion such as urostomy.

Functional Incontinence:
This type of incontinence is the one most commonly associated with the elderly. It may be caused by obstacles in the environment which make it difficult for the elderly person to make it to the bathroom on time as well as by cognitive and physical functional degeneration as seen in Alzheimer’s Disease. There is no associated pathophysiology of the urinary tract in an individual with functional incontinence.

The process of producing urine, storing urine, and eliminating urine is amazingly complex. It involves the function and co-ordination of the brain and the spinal cord, intact nerves and muscles, a functioning bladder, and the unobstructed flow of urine through the lower urinary tract.

Urinary incontinence is a devastating problem affecting some 10 million Americans. The major approaches to the management of urinary incontinence are long-term efforts through an interdisciplinary approach. A multitude of incontinence products play a vital role in the treatment and management of the various types of urinary incontinence. There are many modalities of treatment which depend upon the “type” of urinary incontinence as well as the individual attributes of the patient. Appropriate use of incontinence products are essential adjuncts to successful treatment and/or management of the incontinent person.

Many people with incontinence pull away from their family and friends. They try to hide the problem from everyone, even their doctors. The good news is that in most cases urinary incontinence can be treated and controlled, if not cured. The bad news is that caregivers may not know that treatment is a choice. They may think that nursing home care is the only answer for an older person with incontinence.

Incontinence does not happen because of aging. It may be caused by changes in your body due to disease. For example, incontinence may be the first and only symptom of a urinary tract infection. Curing the infection may relieve or cure the problem. Some drugs may cause incontinence or make it worse.

If you are having trouble with incontinence, see your doctor. Even if it can’t be completely cured, modern products and ways of managing incontinence can ease its discomfort and inconvenience.

Swine flu pandemic has begun, 1st in 41 years:

Protect yourself…Protect your family!
Use GentleCare Non-Alcohol, Fragrance Free Hand and Skin Sanitizer in the battle against cold and flu this season!

The World Health Organization declared a swine flu pandemic Thursday – The first global flu epidemic in 41 years – as infections in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere climbed to nearly 30,000 cases.

The long-awaited pandemic announcement is scientific confirmation that a new flu virus has emerged and is quickly circling the globe. WHO will now ask drugmakers to speed up production of a swine flu vaccine. The declaration will also prompt governments to devote more money toward efforts to contain the virus.

Read more…

As the Owner and President of Paragon Marketing Group, you can feel confident in knowing that since GentleCare was created, my wife and I have used all of our products ourselves and with our 6 and 5 year old son’s. We have shared them with our family and friends and have been promoting healthy skin integrity and infection control hygiene for many years.

I have been involved in this technology for the past 10 years and have seen the tremendous benefits of our GentleCare Alcohol Free Hand Sanitizer over all alcohol based hand sanitizers.  Do not be fooled by the alcohol lobby efforts in Washington.  Alcohol Free is here to stay and provides residual protection after each application where alcohol fails.

It is your choice, make it the right one!

Call me direct with any questions: (508)845-9915

Sincerely,
Kevin DuBois