Depend
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Depend is a brand name for a sort of adult-sized diapers marketed to those afflicted with urinary or fecal incontinence. It is sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation. The Depend brand was introduced in 1980; television commercials with actress June Allyson first spotlighted the Depend brand, with Allyson urging adults with incontinence issues to "Get back into life!"
[edit] Types of Depend products
Depend brand adult incontinence products are manufactured by the Kimberly-Clark corporation, and come in a variety of styles. These include Guards for Men, Protective Underwear, Refastenable Underwear, Fitted Briefs, and Boost.
Poise Pads are slightly thicker maxi pads for women who suffer minor urinary incontinence as well as heavy menstruation. They are worn inside the women's underwear in the middle. They come in regular and extra absorbancies.
Guards for Men are strips of absorbent material with a sticky backing that can be fastened to the inside of a man's underwear. Guards for Men protect the wearer against light urinary incontience. They are marketed to men with "drip" incontience, generally after prostate surgery. They also work for ejaculations.
Underwear (previously sold as Depend Protective Underwear) resembles normal brief-style underpants. Depend Protective Underwear can be pulled on and off like regular underwear, and are absorbent enough to accommodate those afflicted with moderate urinary incontinence. Depend Protective Underwear has a cloth-like backing to reduce noise. They come in regular and extra absorbancies, but unlike the "fitted briefs" do not have any sort of leg cuffs to protect from leakage around the legs. They can be used for light liquid fecal incontinence. The garment can be torn away at the sides for removal in a public restroom when soiled, but pants will have to be removed to don a new pair.
This product grew out of a pair of disposable panties marketed mainly to adolescent girls experiencing their first menstrual periods, who were afraid of leaking onto their clothes. This product "Kotex Personals", failed in the marketplace. The Depend Protective Underwear is still used by some girls and women who have unusually intense menstrual periods.
Undergarments a very wide absorbent pad fastened by a velcro or buttoned belt. They are used for daytime protection against moderate to heavy incontinence. They can hold about one urination, and can be worn with or without underwear. They come in regular and extra absorbencies. It seems that Kimberly-Clark is phasing these older style products out as a lot of the users move to the newer Depend Underwear products.
Refastenable Underwear resembles normal brief-style underpants worn by men and women. Depend Refastenable Underwear can be pulled on and off like regular underwear, or taped on like a regular baby diaper. It does have perforated sides, allowing the diaper to be removed easily. Depend Refastenable Underwear also has four velcro tabs (two on each side of the diaper) to allow a secure fit or to allow wearing it without pulling it up like regular underwear. Refastenable Underwear is absorbent enough to accommodate those afflicted with moderate to heavy urinary incontinence. Depend Refastenable Underwear has a cloth-like backing to reduce noise. They can hold slightly over one average urination. They can be used for day and night including bedwetters. It is an excellent product to use after a teenager has outgrown Goodnites. They also can be used for heavy menstruation or wet dreams. Highly recommended for those with an active life as they are very discreet and can be put on without removing your pants.
Fitted Briefs Fitted Briefs are like large baby diapers. Depend Fitted Briefs must be fastened using the six readjustable tapes. Fitted briefs have a plastic backing for maximum wetness protection, as well as a blue wetness indicator down the front of the diaper that disappears when the brief requires changing. Depend Fitted Briefs are appropriate for those who suffer from heavy/total urinary incontinence as well as fecal incontinence, and have a raised barrier in the middle to prevent urine or feces from escaping the absorbent pad, as well as gathers around the legs. They are ideal for bedwetters as well; they are also good for older children who can't change often during the day and active people. Because of the plastic backing, they make a good deal of noise (a crinkling sound) as the user moves about. They have an elastic waistband that allow them to be pulled up-and-down like underwear for people with only partial incontinence.
Boost liners are simply strips of absorbent material that are meant to complement the absorbancy of existing Depend products. A Depend Boost liner is fitted inside of a pair of Protective Underwear, Refastenable Underwear or a Fitted Brief. These liners have no waterproof backing, and must be worn with another protective garment -- they are designed to increase absorbancy, not replace a protective pad or diaper. A Boost liner allows the wearer to go for a much longer time without changing their brief, enabling the wearer to participate in a much more active lifestyle without frequent breaks for changing. They are ideal for boosted night protection.
