Which Mattress Is Best for a Bedridden Patient

Bedridden patients are extremely vulnerable because of their condition and need special care. Anyone caring for such a patient has to bring a certain level of knowledge and skill to the job. To make that job easier, there are orthopedic mattresses. These versatile products work equally well in medical facilities and at home. Their specialized construction significantly improves patient comfort and health.

Orthopedic mattresses: types and key features

Lying in one position for long periods puts the patient at risk of blood and lymph stagnation. The mattress works against bedsores by regularly changing the position of its individual sections.

Choosing to buy a mattress is a practical and sensible decision, because the product can deliver a massage effect and stimulate blood flow, reduce pain, relieve muscle tension and speed up regeneration and wound healing.

A specialist mattress store can offer several types:

• static – made of polyurethane foam; the material adapts to the contours of the body;
• dynamic – built from chambers that are inflated by a pump, with an adjustable air fill.

Dynamic mattresses come in two forms: cell type and tube type. The first suits patients weighing up to 90 kg, the second is for heavier people, up to 140 kg. Which mattress is best for a bedridden patient depends on their condition: cell models are used for prevention and for stage I-II bedsores, while tube models are used at the later stages III-IV.

How to choose a mattress for a bedridden patient: the criteria

Which mattress to buy for a bedridden patient depends on the individual case and on the patient: how they feel, the nature of the illness, and whether bedsores are present and how advanced they are.

The selection criteria include:

• the type of mattress and its construction;
• the maximum load rating;
• the size of the product – the mattress has to match the dimensions of the bed and must not hang over the edges;
• extra features – noise absorption, airflow, perforation and anti-vibration are all there for the patient comfort.

An important point in deciding how to choose a mattress for a bedridden patient is understanding that you should not wait for the first signs of bedsores. It is better to buy the mattress as soon as the person becomes bedridden. That keeps the patient properly comfortable and prevents dangerous symptoms from developing.