The benefits of a unique washable and reusable absorbent bed pad (Kylie) present significant advantages over drawsheets. In a crossover study on incontinent geriatric patients, those on the new bed pads required less than half the bed changes needed by patients who were lying on drawsheets. The patients benefited by having longer periods when their skin was dry, so that the incidence of erythema was reduced. The new bed pads also demonstrated other advantages, such as less wrinkling and creasing and a reduction in the level of odour, which resulted in patients being more restful. The subsequent need for less linen meant a reduced workload for nurses and cost savings to hospitals and laundries. This bed pad represents a significant advance in the management of incontinent patients.