When You've Gotta Go, You've Gotta Go
By Stack, Jennie Borodko; Quest, Vol. 8, No. 1Publication Date: February 2001
Article focuses on portable urinals for active people with limited mobility when they are away from home. While traveling, people with limited mobility, such as those with neuromuscular diseases, often face obstacles in emptying their bladders. Public restrooms are not always accessible, and even accessible restrooms often require help with transfer, which may not always be available. Suggestions for minimizing the accessibility issue offered include wearing special clothing, such as pants with open sides or seams, kept closed with Velcro; and using daily-living devices such as plastic-coated tongs or reach extenders to facilitate wiping. A male portable urinal discussed is the external, or condom, catheter attached via a tube to a leg bag concealed under the pants. The Electric Leg Bag Emptier uses the wheelchair battery via a switch to drain leg bags. Female urinals described are (1) the Feminal, holding about a quart of liquid and designed for women with limited hand mobility; (2) The Freshette, and OnTheGo, soft, reusable plastic cups connected to tubing, which create a seal when held snugly against the body; (3) the Whizzy, a disposable paper trough designed for urinating from a standing position. A list of urinary-device manufacturers is appended.
Assistive Products Discussed: FRESHETTE FEMALE URINARY SYSTEM
FRESHETTE
ELECTRIC LEG BAG EMPTIER
COMPLETE PORTABLE FRESHETTE
FEMINAL FEMALE URINAL
MEDICAL FRESHETTE SYSTEM
Published by: Muscular Dystrophy Association (Website:http://www.mdausa.org)
Link to text: http://www.mda.org/publications/Quest/q81gottago.html
