Underpads are ordered by absorbency class and by case, and the two numbers that matter are the grams of absorbency and the cost per resident day. In Manitoba, long-term care homes buy them through a medical wholesaler, a group purchasing arrangement, or a distributor, and the sizing decision is usually settled by the bed and the lift equipment rather than by preference. A widely used specification for heavy absorbency is a 60 x 90 cm five-layer underpad with SAP, 50 per pack.
This guide covers how to size underpads to a facility, how to calculate a par level per resident day, and what to check on delivery.
Which underpad size and absorbency does a care home need?
Match the pad to the transfer routine and to the resident, not to a single house standard.
| Specification | Typical setting | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 60 x 90 cm, heavy absorbency, SAP core | Bed protection for residents with high output overnight | SAP holds fluid under pressure, which a pulp-only pad releases |
| 60 x 90 cm, standard absorbency | Daytime bed protection, chair protection | Lower cost per pad where output is moderate |
| Smaller chair pad | Mobile residents, day room | Reduces waste where a full bed pad is not needed |
| Disposable vs washable | Disposable for isolation and high-turnover; washable for stable residents | Laundry capacity and infection control drive the choice |
Two pads per bed position per day is a reasonable planning figure for heavy absorbency, but the number that should set the order is the facility audit: count pads used per resident day for a week and use that, not a catalogue estimate.
How do you set a par level per resident day?
Multiply pads per resident day by the census, then add the buffer that matches the delivery cycle.
- Baseline: pads per resident day, measured, not assumed.
- Census: use the funded beds plus typical occupancy, and plan for the occasional outbreak week when consumption rises.
- Delivery cycle: hold one full cycle plus one week. A home on a two-week cycle that holds one week of stock is one delayed truck away from a shortage.
- Storage: pads are bulky. Work out pallet or shelf capacity before the par level is agreed, because a par level that does not fit the store room becomes a corridor.
Write the par level on the order sheet with the date it was calculated. A par level from two years ago describes a different building.
What should be checked on delivery?
Open one pack per case lot and check four things: the pad size against the label, the absorbency class against the order, the backing against the bed surface, and the lot number. Underpads are a high-volume line where a substitute specification can slip in quietly, and a pad that is 5 cm narrower than specified shows up as more leakage incidents rather than as a purchasing complaint.
Keep one pack from each lot in the store room as a reference sample until the lot is used. When a care team reports that the pads feel different, the reference pack answers the question in a minute.
How should underpads be stored?
Dry, off the floor, and away from the soiled utility room. Compressed packs should stay compressed until use, because a pad that has absorbed ambient moisture before it reaches the bed has already lost part of its capacity. Rotate stock so the oldest pack is used first, and keep the store room below the temperature where the backing starts to feel tacky.
Related reading
- Medical waste segregation in Canada vs the US: colour coding compared
- How an Ontario long-term care home cut cross-contamination events
- How to build a two-supplier policy for single-use consumables
Work out your monthly volumes and pad mix with the incontinence supply planner, or print the ordering checklist for the store room. Ask a Compliance Specialist at the sterilization compliance desk if you also reprocess equipment. Ordering for a care home or multi-site group? Wholesale and multi-site ordering covers case pricing and account setup, and the B2B wholesale collection lists the lines stocked for institutional buyers. Reselling? become a distributor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many underpads does a long-term care home use per resident day?
Plan on roughly two pads per bed position per day for heavy absorbency, then replace the estimate with a one-week use audit in the facility. The audit figure is the one that should set the par level.
What does SAP mean in an underpad?
Superabsorbent polymer locks fluid into a gel under pressure, so the pad does not release moisture when the resident moves. A pulp-only pad absorbs quickly but gives fluid back under body weight.
Should a care home use disposable or washable underpads?
Disposable pads suit isolation rooms and high-turnover settings; washable pads suit stable residents where laundry capacity exists. Many homes use both, chosen per resident rather than per building.
How should underpads be stored?
Dry, off the floor, away from the soiled utility room, and in the compressed pack until use. Rotate stock so the oldest pack is opened first.
CliniEco Medical is a licensed medical device establishment (MDEL #35334).
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