Pressure Relief Mattresses

The Royal College of Nursing has published guidelines in 'Pressure ulcer risk assessment and prevention'. It is important to identify those who are at risk and to intervene early with strategies for prevention, in the bed, wheelchair or chair, in the bath and on the commode - indeed, it is a requirement within the National Standards for Care Homes to do so:

"Standard 8.3 Service users are assessed, by a person trained to do so, to identify those service users who have developed, or are at risk of developing, pressure sores and appropriate intervention is recorded in the plan of care.
8.4 The incidence of pressure sores, their treatment and outcome, are recorded in the service user’s individual plan of care and reviewed on a continuing basis.
8.5 Equipment necessary for the promotion of tissue viability and prevention or treatment of pressure sores is provided."

The Squirrel Diamond airflow mattress (above) has been designed to provide effective pressure care, while at the same time offering a stable surface to facilitate safe independent transfers and self positioning. Just 12.5 cm thick, it can be used safely even with standard height bed rails.

You can read a case study on the development of an effective solution to pressure sores while travelling, by clicking here.

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The Optima dynamic pressure relief system from Nexus DMS offers pain relief and pressure management for users weighing from 7kg to 300kg. It prevents the feelings of nausea some people experience when lying on a classic alternating mattress, and the high pressure pump is quiet and operates only on demand, so that it doen't disturb the user's sleep.

Left, Toto is an automatic lateral rotating pressure relief system from Genie Care, which can be added to any standard single bed, providing pressure relief for vulnerable patients at an economical price. Fully automated, it tilts the patient gently and quietly over a ten minute cycle, and can be combined with a profiling system incorporating backrest and knee break adjustment. For turning the occupant, there is a fast inflate cycle which enables carers to move them without strain or risk.

In addition to pressure beds, you can also obtain a separate mattress or mattress overlay, which may be more cost-effective.

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Foam mattress overlays (right) may have a cross cut or textured upper surface to allow greater conformity.

They can also reduce friction and shear by allowing the surface to move with the user.

Foam can act as an insulator, raising the skin temperature, so a cross cut surface helps to counteract this by improving ventilation.

Foam overlays need turning on a weekly basis and should be replaced regularly (every 6 - 9 months) as their performance deteriorates.

Gel-filled supports address some of the problems inherent in foam; for example, they support the patient evenly across the horizontal plain without breaking down over time, and as the gel is designed to simulate the composition of human fatty tissue, it helps to reduce the sheer and friction that contribute to pressure sores. Gel doesn't have the insulating properties of foam.

There is more information about care beds in our specialist bed section.

Our postural management area includes a section dedicated to the night-time sleep systems.

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