11. How can I help protect furniture and possessions from damage?

Protection products

You may want to show your clients the different products available to protect furniture, such as chairs and bed mattresses. These products can be disposable or washable. Examples are shown on the Continence Product Advisor (CPA) website (https://www.continenceproductadvisor.org/bedchairprotectors).

Waterproof bedding - such as pillow and duvet covers, and wipe-clean duvets – can help protect people who are incontinent at night. Absorbent pads and specially-designed covers can protect car seats. The CPA website explains where to buy these products, the advantages and disadvantages of each type, and how to clean washable items properly. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s washing and drying instructions so the products stay clean and continue to work well. See Section 7 on personal continence products and Section 10 on care at night, for further information on protection products.

These products can be expensive, so you may want to suggest cheaper options when it’s suitable. By looking online, clients might find similar products at lower prices. For example, some pet products are cheaper but work just as well as those made for people. If you mention this to a client, do it gently so it doesn’t sound insulting. Using a bit of humour may help.

“Dog pads are actually cheaper than human pads. They’re exactly the same thing. So, it’s about experimenting with different products to see what works best for you, and that might be using pet pads as opposed to human pads, depending on your budget”.