Designates first week in August as "Adult Diaper Need Awareness Week" in New Jersey.

SR88

SENATE RESOLUTION No. 88

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 12, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates first week in August as �Adult Diaper Need
Awareness Week� in New Jersey.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Senate
Resolution
designating the first week of
August as �Adult Diaper Need Awareness Week� in New Jersey.

Whereas,

Twenty-five million American adults suffer from various forms of incontinence;
and

Whereas,

Urinary incontinence, the loss of bladder control, is more common in older
people, especially women; and

Whereas,

The National Poll on Healthy Aging found that nearly half of women ages 50 and
older report urine leakage, due to female-specific factors such as pregnancy,
childbirth, and menopause but often do not tell their doctor; and

Whereas,

Persons living with chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer�s disease, dementia,
multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson�s disease can also experience incontinence;
and

Whereas,

In addition, many persons with disabilities are obliged to wear diapers for a
variety of reasons, incontinence and the inability to use a bathroom unaided
among the most common; and

Whereas,

The only way for older Americans, the disabled, and persons living with chronic
illnesses to manage and lead as normal of a life as possible is through the use
products that are specifically catered to managing incontinence, most notably
adult diapers; and

Whereas,

A person with a moderate amount of urine leakage may use two to four disposable
diapers each day, at a cost averaging $80�$160 per month.� However, if a person
needs adult diapers for all their urinary needs, the cost can be between $200-$300
per month for adult briefs and other incontinence products; and

Whereas,

Often, people dealing with incontinence problems are among those who have the
fewest resources.� Most of these people are older adults, many of whom may be
living on limited incomes with limited buying power once medical expenses are
factored in; and

Whereas,

According to the Cornell University Online Resource for U.S. Disability
Statistics, in 2009, an estimated 26.4 percent of the population with a
disability between the ages of 21 and 64 had incomes below the poverty line;
and

Whereas,

Though the official census data gives seniors a 2020 poverty rate of 9.5
percent, the Supplemental Poverty Measure, which accounts for expenses such as
the rising costs of health care and medical supplies, raises the American
senior poverty rate to 20.4 percent; and

Whereas,

Diaper need is the lack of a sufficient supply of diapers to keep an infant, a
toddler, or an adult with incontinence clean, dry, and healthy; and

Whereas,

Adults managing incontinence who are living in poverty or who have limited
incomes often lack access to adult diapers and other incontinence supplies; and

Whereas,

Adults with incontinence who cannot afford diapers can end up isolated and
embarrassed, worried about how they smell, or what might happen if a restroom is
not �nearby; and

Whereas,

An inadequate supply of adult diapers or inferior incontinence products also
pose many health risks, including rashes and urinary tract infections, and can
lead to anxiety and depression; and

Whereas,

Very few private health insurance plans cover the cost of adult diapers and
other incontinence products; and

Whereas,

Federal health insurance programs such as Medicaid and Medicare have varying procedures
and requirements relating to insurance coverage for adult diapers and other
incontinence products; and

Whereas,

Adult diapers and other incontinence products must be medically necessary for
Medicaid to cover the cost of their purchase. �If not a medical necessity, a
person may have to pay 100 percent of the cost out of pocket.� In most states,
Medicaid programs cover adult diapers, though the amount varies; and

Whereas,

Medicare Part C, or Medicare Advantage, provides the same coverage as Medicare
parts A and B, in conjunction with certain other benefits. �Although most
Medicare Advantage plans do not cover adult diapers, some offer coverage for
over-the-counter supplies, which does include adult diapers; and

Whereas,

Diapers banks are a resource for those who cannot afford to purchase needed
incontinence products due to financial difficulties; and

Whereas,

In many cases, adult diapers made available through diaper banks are free,
though each group has specific policies about products, services, and
distribution; and

Whereas,

Most diaper banks collect products by collaborating with diaper partners, organizations,
and individuals as well as through monetary donations; and

Whereas,

The coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic has contributed to economic
adversity and revealed and worsened many long-standing societal issues; and

Whereas,

Diaper banks that distribute adult diapers and other incontinence products
report a surging demand, and have scrambled to find new ways to distribute these
products as other agencies that serve older adults shut down or reduced their
operations because of the COVID-19 pandemic; and

Whereas,

The State of New Jersey recognizes that adult diaper need is a public health
issue and by addressing the issue of, and raising public awareness about, adult
diaper need, the citizens of the New Jersey can ensure that all adults
suffering from incontinence will have access to clean diapers and other incontinence
products required for daily living; now, therefore,

���� Be It
Resolved
by the Senate of the State of New
Jersey:

���� 1.��� The first week in August
shall be designated as �Adult Diaper Need Awareness Week� in the State of New
Jersey in order to recognize that adult diaper need is a public health issue,
raise awareness of adult diaper need, and ensure that all adults suffering from
incontinence will have access to clean diapers and other incontinence products
required for daily living.

���� 2.��� The Governor is
respectfully requested to issue a proclamation recognizing the first week in
August as �Adult Diaper Need Awareness Week� in New Jersey and calling upon
public officials, the citizens of the State, and other interested groups to
observe the week with appropriate activities and programs.

STATEMENT

���� This resolution designates the
first week in August as �Adult Diaper Need Awareness Week� in the State of New
Jersey in order to recognize that adult diaper need is a public health issue,
raise awareness of adult diaper need, and ensure that all adults suffering from
incontinence will have access to clean diapers and other incontinence products
required for daily living.

���� Twenty-five million American
adults suffer from various forms of incontinence, and urinary incontinence, the
loss of bladder control, is more common in older people, especially women.

���� Persons living with chronic
illnesses such as Alzheimer�s, disease, dementia, multiple sclerosis, or
Parkinson�s disease, and those who are disabled, can also experience
incontinence.

���� The only way for older
Americans, the disabled, and persons living with chronic illnesses to manage
and lead as normal of a life as possible is through the use products that are
specifically catered to managing incontinence, most notably adult diapers.

���� A person with a moderate
amount of urine leakage may use two to four disposable diapers each day, at a
cost averaging $80�$160 per month.� However, if a person needs adult diapers
for all their urinary needs, the cost can be between $200-$300 per month for
adult briefs and other incontinence products.

���� Diaper need is the lack of a
sufficient supply of diapers to keep an infant, a toddler, or an adult with
incontinence clean, dry, and healthy.

���� Often, people dealing with
incontinence problems are among those who have the fewest resources, and adults
managing incontinence who are living in poverty or who have limited incomes may
not have access to adult diapers and other incontinence supplies.

���� An inadequate supply of adult diapers
or inferior incontinence products poses many health risks, including rashes and
urinary tract infections, and can lead to anxiety and depression.

���� Diapers banks are a resource
for people who cannot afford to purchase needed incontinence products due to
financial difficulties and, in many cases, adult diapers made available through
diaper banks are free.

���� However, the fact that federal
health insurance programs such as Medicaid and Medicare have varying procedures
and requirements relating to insurance coverage for incontinence products, and the
coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic has amplified economic hardships, adults
suffering with incontinence often lack access to adult diapers and other
products that are essential for daily living.

���� Raising public awareness of
adult diaper need will ensure that adults with incontinence will no longer
struggle with inadequate supplies of adult diapers or inferior incontinence products
and will be able to manage and lead as normal of a life as possible.