Hip Protector and Absorbent Products for Fall-Risk Residents: What Canadian LTC Homes Stock
A resident at risk of falling needs two things from the supply room: something that cushions the hip on impact, and absorbent products that keep skin dry and intact when continence care is handled during a busy shift. Canadian long-term care homes stock both. Here is what a fall-risk resident uses, and the rules a home should check.
What does a fall-risk resident actually need on the shelf?
Two families, working together. Wearable hip padding cushions the hip if a fall happens, and absorbent products such as briefs, underpads and washcloths manage continence in a way that keeps skin dry and lets staff respond quickly. Table 1 sets out what each item does and what to check before ordering.
| Item | What it does | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Hip protector | Cushions the hip on impact | Fit, sizing range and whether the resident will wear it |
| Absorbent brief | Manages continence day or night | Absorbency, size and cut |
| Underpad | Protects bedding and chairs | Size and absorbency |
| Washcloth | Skin cleansing at each change | Material and count per case |
Do hip protectors actually reduce the risk of fracture?
The evidence is real but conditional. A Bayesian meta-analysis of trials in nursing home residents found that hip protectors were associated with a lower risk of hip fracture. The effect depended heavily on adherence: a pad left in a drawer does nothing. Fit and comfort therefore decide whether the protection exists at all, so the padding only works when it is worn, and the design has to be one the resident keeps on.
How do you choose absorbent products for a fall-risk resident?
Match absorbency to the resident, not to the shelf. A resident mobilising with a walker needs a brief that stays in place and can be changed quickly, often a pull-on by day and a taped brief overnight. Underpads protect the bedding during a transfer, and washcloths let staff clean the skin at the bedside. The aim is fewer changes with better skin outcomes,.
What does Canadian long-term care regulation require?
In Ontario, homes operate under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2020 and its general regulation, O. Reg. 246/22, which set out the care expectations a home is inspected against. The regulation is why a home documents what it stocks and why: continence care and fall prevention are both captured in the resident plan of care, and the supplies have to match it.
How should a home build the par level?
Count residents, then count changes. Take the residents on a fall-risk or continence plan, multiply by the changes each needs per day, and convert that into briefs per case and underpads per pack. A home that keeps Day Comfort adult briefs, 3,000 mL for daytime use and Night Plus briefs, 5,000 mL overnight keeps two absorbency levels rather than one, and a case of disposable washcloths covers the skin-care step without tying up laundry. Both lines sit in the long-term care collection, with the continence items grouped in the incontinence care collection. Review the level each quarter against occupancy.
Ordering for a clinic, lab or care home? Wholesale and multi-site ordering covers account setup and case pricing, and the B2B wholesale collection lists the lines stocked for institutional buyers. Reselling? become a distributor.
Stocking for a long-term care home? See our long-term care and fall-prevention supplies.
References
- Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2020 (Ontario) (checked 4 October 2026)
- O. Reg. 246/22 - General Regulation under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2020 (checked 4 October 2026)
- Sawka et al. - Hip protectors and hip fracture risk in nursing home residents, Bayesian meta-analysis (checked 4 October 2026)
Printable companion: the printable incontinence supply planner lays out the par-level fields a home should review each quarter.
Want the reorder sized to your resident mix? The clinic supply planner turns resident counts and change rates into a case-level order.
Related Reading
- Which Absorbent Incontinence Products Should a Long-Term Care Home Stock?
- Incontinence Pad Sizing: Which Dimensions Suit Which Resident Profile?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do hip protectors prevent hip fractures in long-term care?
A Bayesian meta-analysis of trials in nursing home residents found hip protectors were associated with a lower risk of hip fracture, but the effect depended on adherence. A pad that is not worn does nothing, so fit and comfort decide whether any protection exists.
How do you choose absorbent products for a fall-risk resident?
Match absorbency and fit to the resident, not the shelf. A resident mobilising with a walker usually needs a brief that stays in place and can be changed quickly, often a pull-on by day and a taped brief overnight, with underpads at the bed.
What regulation covers supplies in an Ontario long-term care home?
Homes operate under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2020 and its general regulation, O. Reg. 246/22, which set the care expectations a home is inspected against, including continence care and fall prevention recorded in the resident plan of care.
How often should a home review its continence supply par level?
Each quarter is workable. Recheck the number of residents on a continence or fall-risk plan against occupancy, and reset the case quantities so stock keeps pace with the current house rather than last year's.
Last updated: October 2026. CliniEco Medical is a licensed medical device establishment (MDEL #35334).
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