Walk into any hospital ward, and you'll see nurses and aides rushing to attend to patient after patient. Amidst taking vitals, administering medications, and coordinating treatments, one task often gets overlooked in discussions about healthcare efficiency: incontinence care. For bedridden patients, elderly individuals recovering from surgery, or those with chronic conditions, managing incontinence isn't just a matter of hygiene—it's about preserving their sense of self-worth.
Traditional methods rely heavily on manual cleaning, which can take 15–20 minutes per patient. For a nurse juggling 6–8 patients per shift, those minutes add up quickly. The result? Rushed care, increased risk of skin infections from delayed cleaning, and caregivers facing burnout from the physical and emotional toll of repetitive, intimate tasks. "You want to give each patient the time they deserve, but when you're stretched thin, it's impossible," says Maria Gonzalez, a registered nurse with 12 years of experience in a Los Angeles hospital. "I've seen patients apologize for needing help, and that breaks my heart. No one should feel ashamed for something they can't control."
The numbers tell a story: According to the National Association for Continence, over 50% of hospitalized adults experience some form of incontinence. For long-term care patients, that number jumps to 70%. Yet, 68% of caregivers report feeling inadequately supported in managing these needs—until now.
