Learning About Pressure Relief Mattresses
Written by Christine Hsin, Student Occupational Therapist
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about pressure relief mattresses, or you aren’t sure what they are, you are in the right place! In this blog post, we break down the reasons why someone might need this form of home health equipment, how it helps, and give information on how one might use AssistList to look for a pressure relief mattress. Keep on reading to learn more.
Why might some people need a pressure relief mattress?
Some people might spend a lot of their day (8+ hours) lying in bed. This might be due to illness, injury, or recovery, making it difficult for them to move around. Not only might this be uncomfortable, but when someone spends a lot of time in their bed, they can develop pressure sores. Pressure sores are areas of skin breakdown caused by repeated rubbing or pressing, which can reduce blood flow to the area. Over time, there may be openings in the skin and the skin and tissue in that area may die. Pressure sores can be painful, take a long time to heal, and interfere with sleep quality, so they are important to prevent.
What does a pressure relief mattress do?
A pressure relief mattress can help prevent pressure sores, stop existing ones from getting worse, or support wound healing. These mattresses are specially designed to help relieve pressure and redistribute the weight of the body on the bed. Since pressure relief mattresses spread weight more evenly, they can be more comfortable for someone than a standard mattress.
Here are some considerations for purchasing a pressure relief mattress that you might want to think about:
- What material is the mattress made out of?
There are a lot of different materials available, including mattresses with gel, foam, air cells that can be inflated, and more. Some pressure relief mattresses may need to be plugged in during use if they use air to redistribute pressure, while others might not need to be plugged in if they use memory foam. These materials can provide different kinds of support. Someone with more severe pressure sores might have a pressure relief mattress that distributes pressure more than someone with minor sores.
2. How to maintain the mattress?
Does the mattress need to be reinflated or adjusted over time? How can the mattress be cleaned? You’ll likely want to make sure that your mattress is being maintained well so it is giving the right support and so that it is clean for use.
3. How long does the mattress last?
Not all mattresses last forever — consider how long the one you get might be expected to last for. If a mattress is used for longer than it is designed for, it might not do its job in the same way.
Gentle Reminder:
If you are interested in learning more information about pressure sores, how to check your skin for pressure sores, or how to prevent or treat them, it is recommended that you get in touch with a healthcare professional such as a doctor or nurse that is knowledgeable in this area. It is important to talk to people with the right expertise that will be able to provide the appropriate guidance in your specific situation.
After talking to a trusted healthcare professional, if a pressure relief mattress has been recommended, you may consider consulting an occupational therapist for guidance before getting this equipment. As pressure mattresses can be quite expensive, it’s important to do some research before going through with a purchase. Occupational therapists can work with you to help figure out what type of pressure relief mattress may fit you or your loved one’s needs and environment (and work through the considerations mentioned above!). If you are interested in finding an occupational therapist near you, you can contact your doctor, health authority, or use the OT finder available through the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, which is located on AssistList’s Partner page.
After talking with an occupational therapist, if you are interested in looking to find an appropriate pressure relief mattress, you can check what is available at AssistList (and even go through the website with them). Feel free to check out this blog post with more tips on buying equipment from AssistList.
Thank you for spending the time to learn more — we hope that you found this helpful!
Christine
