Size alone does not decide which incontinence product a resident needs — form and absorbency do. A liner or light pad suits a mobile resident with light loss, a pull-up suits an ambulatory resident with moderate loss, a tape-style brief suits heavy loss or a bed-bound resident, and a 60×90 cm underpad protects the mattress underneath any of them.
Match form to mobility first, then absorbency to volume. That order is what keeps leaks and changes per day predictable, and predictable change counts are what make par levels calculable.
What Is the Difference Between a Pad, a Brief, a Pull-Up and an Underpad?
A pad or liner is a shaped absorbent insert held in place by underwear; it is removed and replaced without removing clothing. A pull-up is a pant-shaped absorbent garment pulled on like underwear, suited to residents who can stand. A tape-style brief fastens at the waist and is changed lying down. An underpad is a flat absorbent sheet placed on the bed surface, used with any of the three rather than instead of them.
Which Absorbency Class Fits Which Resident?
Absorbency classes run from light liner to overnight brief, and the useful mapping is by mobility and by how often the resident can be changed. Ambulatory residents who are dry overnight typically sit in the light to moderate range; residents on a scheduled change or who are bed-bound need a heavier class, plus an overnight class for the long night interval.
When Is a 60×90 cm Underpad Needed?
An underpad is bed protection: it catches what the primary product does not and reduces linen changes. Facilities commonly hold a large size for the bed and a smaller size for chairs or trolleys, and the choice follows the surface dimensions rather than the resident’s absorbency class. Sizing and pack counts for a 60×90 cm five-layer pad are listed on the 60×90 cm underpad product page.
How Do You Set a Par Level for a Care Home?
Par level is a calculation, not a guess. Multiply average units per resident per day by the number of residents, then multiply by a safety factor covering delivery lead time, weekends and variability in change frequency. Keep a separate line for underpads, which are consumed per bed rather than per resident episode, and recalculate whenever the resident mix or the change protocol changes.
Illustrative arithmetic: a 60-bed home, an average of four primary units per resident per day, and a three-day safety factor would model a working stock of 720 primary units. That figure is only an example of the arithmetic — real usage should come from your own change records.
Does Form Matter More Than Absorbency?
Form comes first because it decides whether a change can be done standing or lying down, and therefore whether staff can complete it in the time available. Once form is right, absorbency is tuned upward until leaks stop. Homes ordering across several categories can request a bulk quote to compare case sizes side by side.
One sizing note that gets missed: fit is set by the waist and rise measurements a product lists, not by the absorbency band on the bag, so two products in the same band can differ in coverage. Confirm the measurements from the specification before moving a resident between brands, because a change in coverage shows up as a leak long before it shows up as a complaint.
| Form | Typical absorbency band | Resident profile that fits |
|---|---|---|
| Liner or pad | Light to moderate | Mobile resident who needs a back-up insert |
| Pull-up | Moderate | Ambulatory resident who can stand to change |
| Tape-style brief | Moderate to heavy | Bed-bound resident or one on a scheduled change |
| Overnight brief | Heavy, extended interval | Resident with a long uninterrupted night period |
| Underpad, 60×90 cm | Bed protection, any band | Any at-risk bed, placed under a primary product |
Care homes that also monitor sterilizers can start with a BI 5-pack trial ($12.99, ships free).
Ordering for a clinic, lab or care home? Wholesale and multi-site ordering covers case pricing and account setup, and the B2B wholesale collection lists the lines stocked for institutional buyers.
Related reading
CliniEco learning hub · Briefs per resident per day: par level math · Underpad sizing: 60×90 cm vs 30×36 in · Pads per pack and cost per pad
Frequently Asked Questions
What size incontinence pad should a care home stock first?
Start with the form that matches the resident mix — a liner, pull-up or brief — then set the size range from the waist and rise measurements the product lists.
How many incontinence products does a resident use per day?
It varies with mobility and the change schedule, so pull the number from your own change records rather than applying a default.
Do underpads replace briefs?
No. An underpad protects the bed surface underneath the primary product; it is used with a brief or pull-up, not instead of one.
How is a par level calculated for incontinence supplies?
Units per resident per day multiplied by the resident count and a safety factor, with a separate line for underpads.
CliniEco Medical is a licensed medical device establishment (MDEL #35334).
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