Adult incontinence briefs are ordered by absorbency tier and waist size, and in Manitoba the deciding factor for a care home is usually the case count per resident month rather than the unit price on a bag. Briefs that are one size too small leak at the leg cuff no matter how high the absorbency, so sizing comes first and absorbency second. The 
day-weight brief in a 60-count case is the common starting point for ambulatory residents.
How do you size a brief: waist or hip?
Use both. The waist range tells you whether the tape lands on the front panel; the hip range tells you whether the leg cuffs sit where they are designed to. Where the two ranges disagree, follow the hip measurement, because leakage starts at the leg opening. A resident who measures into two sizes should be fitted with a sample of each before the case is ordered.
Which absorbency tier for which resident?
| Tier | Typical resident | Change interval guide |
|---|---|---|
| Day weight, moderate | Ambulatory, toileting with assistance | Every 3 to 4 hours |
| Day weight, heavy | Limited mobility, night-time use optional | Every 3 hours |
| Overnight, maximum | Bed-bound or sleeping 8 hours | Once overnight |
| Pull-on style | Mobile resident who dresses standing | As a brief, with easier changes |
How many cases does a 40-bed unit need?
Assume four changes a day for a resident on a three-hour interval, which is 120 briefs a month. A 40-bed unit with two thirds of residents on briefs is roughly 27 residents, so about 3,200 briefs a month, or 54 cases of 60. That number moves with the case mix, not with the census alone: a unit that admits several bed-bound residents will run through overnight stock faster than the headcount suggests.
How should cases be stored in a care home?
Briefs are bulky and absorbent. Store cases off the floor, away from exterior walls and away from the soiled utility room, and keep the carton closed so the product does not take up odour or moisture. Rotate by expiry and by size, and keep a two-week par on the unit rather than in central stores, because a cart moved to central storage at shift change is the usual reason a resident waits.
What belongs on a wholesale order besides briefs?
Skin barrier cream, disposable washcloths, underpads in the size that matches the bed, and gloves in the size the unit actually uses. Ordering briefs without underpads moves the leak problem to the mattress, which is a more expensive failure than the brief itself.
Printable layer: the incontinence supply planner produces a printable monthly supply checklist, and the same planner works as a calculator for case counts.
Need a second opinion on your monitoring schedule? Ask a Compliance Specialist and bring your current log to the conversation.
Ordering for a clinic, lab or care home? Wholesale and multi-site ordering covers account setup and case formats, and the B2B wholesale collection lists the lines stocked for institutional buyers. Reselling? become a distributor.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I size a brief by waist or hip measurement?
Use both, and follow the hip range where they disagree. Leakage starts at the leg cuff, so the hip measurement decides fit even when the waist range suggests a smaller size.
How many briefs does a 40-bed unit use each month?
About 3,200 briefs, or 54 cases of 60, assuming two thirds of residents wear briefs at four changes a day. A heavier case mix raises the overnight share.
Is a pull-on style better than a taped brief?
For a mobile resident who can stand and dress, yes: changes are faster. For a bed-bound resident, a taped brief allows a change without turning the whole body.
Where should brief cases be stored?
Off the floor, away from exterior walls and away from the soiled utility room, with the carton closed. Keep a two-week par on the unit so a cart does not disappear to central stores.
Do briefs need underpads as well?
Yes for most care settings. The underpad protects the mattress when a brief shifts, and replacing a mattress is far more expensive than the pad.
CliniEco Medical is a licensed medical device establishment (MDEL #35334).
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