Urinary incontinence can exact a significant toll, both emotionally and financially. According to the Simon Foundation for Continence, a patient support and information organization, some sufferers are afraid to venture far from home, fearful of having an accident in public. Also, urinary incontinence is often cited by families as the major factor leading to the decision to place an elder relative into a nursing home.
When shopping for absorbent pads and undergarments, sufferers sometimes find them indiscreetly displayed adjacent to baby diapers -- a product placement that is hardly a morale boost for the unfortunate shopper. What's more, absorbent undergarments are not cheap. They can cost daily users several hundred dollars or more a year.
Nationally, adult incontinence products, including adult diapers, make up a $541 million-a-year market, as sold in food, drug and mass-merchandise stores, according to Information Resources Inc., a market research firm in Chicago. And, these products are not covered by medical insurance. Especially for older Americans living on a fixed income, incontinence products can take a significant bite out of their budget.
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