For a long time now I have wondered about what sorts of adult diaper brands hospitals use. To get the answer to this question I went to my followers on Tiktok to ask my friends there what they knew.
The top brands of adult diapers used in hospitals around the world are Tena, Molicare, Prevail, Absorin, Medline Fitright, Medline Restore, iD Expert Form, Attends, Mckesson, Abena, and Depend. What the hospital will have will vary depending on its location, the products available, and the hospital’s policy towards adult diapers.
There are a lot of different variables that determine what products a hospital is going to choose to stock up on. There are also a few different reasons you might be seeking the answer to this question, beyond mere curiosity that is.
Let’s see if we can address your concerns.
What Kind Of Diapers Do Hospitals Use For Adults?
I’ve rarely ever had to stay overnight in a hospital. I spent some time in the hospital in 2020 when I got hit by a car but because of my injuries, we had to use an absorbent disposable pad at the time. So I never really got any experience with the hospital diapers they had.
Fortunately, I have quite a diverse audience over on Tiktok. I made a post some time ago asking my audience what sort of diapers they have seen in the hospitals they work at or have stayed in. It turns out I have quite a few caregivers and nurses in my audience.
If you happen to take the time to read the comments of this post you’ll see people sharing their experiences with different hospitals all over the world.
Some hospitals here in the United States refuse to even use adult diapers.
One of my wonderful supporters explains in this series of comments that instead of using adult diapers they take disposable pads and pull them up into the shape of a diaper.
The only time this makes anywhere close to any sense is in a situation like mine where I had 10 broken ribs and rolling me around to tape up a diaper is a bad idea. Okay…I’m sure there are plenty of other situations where you may want to avoid the use of an adult diaper but as an overall blanket approach I’m not convinced it’s the best idea.
Especially when your caregivers are going to use the disposable pads exactly like a diaper when disposable pads are NOT designed to be used that way.
There is a reason that diapers are in the shape of an hourglass. There are reasons they have leg guards.
For the hospital to justify it as better for the skin than the products that are actually designed for the comfort of the patient is beyond me.
The good news is these types of hospitals and facilities seem to be in the minority.
As for what other hospitals in the United States keep in stock it varies depending on location and the type of facility. What they’ll use on their patients may also vary depending on the patient’s situation too.
Some facilities take the approach that if the patient is stuck in bed or in a wheelchair then they go with the tape up diapers. If the patient is mobile then they go with pull ups.
For those that do use tape up diapers the Medline Fitright, Mckesson, Tena, and Attends are all pretty popular brands that many facilities in the U.S. seem to use.
In Canada, you’ll most commonly find Tena, Prevail, and Attends products.
In Germany and Australia Molicare seem to be the most popular diaper used in hospitals and caregiver settings. Australia also uses Tena and Abena in some locations.
It is certainly interesting to note that up until now it’s a lot of the same BIG brands in the industry.
iD Expert is one that was reported to be used in Ireland. This is one that I’m vaguely familiar with but not nearly as much as the others listed above.
The one that I had never heard of was reported as being used in the Netherlands. It was an adult diaper brand called Absorin. Upon further investigation, this diaper brand line up is called Absorin Comfort.
Preparing for an Overnight Stay?
One of the main reasons you may want to know about what sorts of diapers you might find in hospitals is if you’re preparing for a stay in a hospital.
What will they have available? Will you need to bring your own? Will you WANT to bring your own?
I usually tend to avoid a lot of the brands listed above just because in my experience they aren’t really that great. That said, take that with a grain of salt as it has been many years since I’ve tried many of them.
I’m certain I will be reviewing them all on this website and on my YouTube channel over the course of time but most people that I speak to who wear diapers don’t NORMALLY choose to wear those particular brands.
For those that do it is usually because that is what is covered by their insurance or national healthcare system.
That said, many of the diapers listed above are still far better than the average brand you can find in your local drug store.
On the other hand, if you’re anything like me then you probably would prefer the comfort of whatever diaper you’re used to wearing. Personally, if I know I’m going to be in the hospital ahead of time then I’d bring my own diaper supplies with me.
Especially since no hospitals seem to carry or use the types of brands I prefer to wear.
Figuring Out What Diapers To Get as a Caregiver
Another reason that people want to know what kind of diapers hospitals use is so that they know what to buy for themselves or perhaps a family member.
They are generally approaching it from the assumption that whatever hospitals use on their patients must be the best out there right?
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for a variety of reasons.
I am told that when it comes to taking care of patients who may be bedridden or stuck in a wheelchair their needs to avoid damage to the skin are far greater than those of us with mobility. Thus they need to be checked and changed more frequently.
To ensure that caregivers do this hospitals opt for thinner and less absorbent diapers. So as a result they won’t actually order or use diapers that are far more absorbent.
At least, these are the rumors I have heard so far when speaking to people. I’m still hoping to get more insights on the different standards that hospitals go by when it comes to the types of adult diapers they order and use.
I’m constantly trying to make sure I put my assumptions and biases in check when it comes to bringing you the best quality content on adult diapers there is.
As one who is fortunate enough to only have issues with incontinence, I speak from the perspective of one who wears diapers and is able to manage their condition on their own.
It is because of this I’m not always able to provide quality insights into the products that would be best for those out there who may not be as mobile and active as I am.
This is why I do my best to speak to as many of you as I can in my comments on YouTube and Tiktok. You help provide me with insights I didn’t know about and see outside of my personal biases.
For those of you caregivers reading this who still might be lost on what adult diapers to order please check out the rest of the content on this site, on my YouTube channel, and on Tiktok for more information on the best products out there!