Sustainable & cost effective continence care

Sustainable and Cost-Effective Continence Care in Care Homes

In the UK, approximately one million incontinence pads are used daily, each taking up to 500 years to degrade due to their high plastic content. This highlights the urgent need for more sustainable practices in continence care.

Several NHS-led studies and pilot schemes have demonstrated that improvements in continence care can significantly reduce product wastage, lower environmental impact, and generate considerable cost savings. For example, a project in South Warwickshire NHS Trust reported an 80% reduction in daily continence product usage through targeted assessments, improved product selection, and staff training. Other studies, such as those implemented in NHS Lanarkshire care homes, have shown enhanced resident outcomes and reductions in incidents such as urinary tract infections and falls, further contributing to savings and improved quality of care.

These results collectively underline how adopting a more sustainable approach to continence care can deliver tangible environmental and financial benefits for care homes.

Ensuring proper continence care in care homes is essential for sustainability, cost savings, and resident well-being. Using the right products reduces waste, cuts costs, and improves care quality.

The Cost of Poor Continence Management

Incorrect product selection leads to excessive waste, increased laundry costs, and higher staff workload. Leakage incidents result in extra bedding changes, raising water, detergent, and energy use.

A recent study in Lincolnshire care homes found that residents using standard products required six pads per day, costing £15.33. By switching to better-suited products, usage dropped to four pads daily, reducing costs to £6.68. This also led to a 75% decrease in bedding changes and an 18% increase in residents' ability to self-toilet.

Choosing the Right Products for Savings and Sustainability

High-quality, well-fitted products reduce the frequency of changes and prevent leakage, lowering procurement, laundry, and disposal costs. Some manufacturers offer biodegradable options, supporting environmental goals. A structured continence care plan with supplier guidance ensures long-term savings and improved outcomes.

Blueleaf offers a wide range of incontinence products to suit every resident's needs, from leading brands like TENA and Ontex, ensuring that each resident gets the most suitable care and comfort. You can view our range here - Blueleaf | Continence Care

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Staff Training and Best Practices

Proper product application, understanding resident needs, and monitoring fluid intake contribute to effective continence care. Training staff and working with knowledgeable suppliers enhance efficiency and reduce waste.

A Holistic Approach to Continence Care

Sustainable continence management benefits both financial performance and resident dignity. By choosing the right products and implementing best practices, care homes can lower costs, reduce environmental impact, and provide better care.

How to Improve Continence Care in Your Care Home

Improving continence care begins with a thorough assessment of each resident's needs. By conducting individual assessments, care homes can determine the most appropriate products and strategies for each resident, preventing waste and ensuring comfort. Here’s how to start improving continence care:

1. Conduct Regular Assessments: Continuously monitor each resident's condition and adjust care plans and products accordingly.
2. Train Staff Regularly: Ensure that all staff are properly trained in applying continence products, understanding the importance of individualised care, and minimising waste.
3. Engage with Experienced Suppliers: Collaborate with suppliers like Blueleaf who can provide tailored continence solutions and offer guidance on best practices.
4. Implement a Structured Care Plan: A comprehensive continence care plan should be put in place to provide clear guidelines on product usage, monitoring, and disposal.
5. Monitor Outcomes: Track the effectiveness of the continence care plan, including reductions in product usage, cost savings, and improved resident outcomes.

Case Study: Lisbeth Nursing Home

Blueleaf collaborated with Lisbeth Nursing Home, a 40-bed facility in Great Wyrley near Walsall, to enhance their continence care practices. By partnering with Essity, Blueleaf provided a range of TENA products tailored to each resident's needs, following individual assessments. This initiative led to a significant reduction in moisture lesions, improved resident outcomes, and decreased the necessity for additional creams and cleaning products. Care Home Manager Andrea Walker praised the collaboration, noting that the switch to Blueleaf's TENA products, combined with staff training on proper usage, further elevated their already exceptional level of resident care. Read the full case study here - Blueleaf Care & Lisbeth Nursing Home Case Study

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How Blueleaf Can Help

Blueleaf partners with leading brands such as TENA and Ontex to provide high-performance continence solutions. We also offer continence care audits to help care homes identify areas for improvement, ensuring the most effective and sustainable practices are in place. You can also find out more on how Blueleaf can help, including access to downloading our best practice guide - Blueleaf and Continence Care.