Choosing the right pressure care mattress.

When choosing the right pressure care mattress, as always with any assistive equipment, the benefits must be tailored to the requirements and needs of the individual. Comfort and sleep have become a major factor in mattress choice, as we know that quality of sleep plays such a vital role in healing, recovery and mental health.

Pressure injury care and prevention will always be a focal point in choosing the right pressure care mattress. However, the tendency to focus only on the risk and recovery of a pressure injury at the detriment of sleep and comfort is no longer the centrepiece of consideration.

There will be situations where the focus must be on existing or potential pressure injuries, such as an individual with bony prominence, an inability to shift in the bed with a low rating towards zero, or an existing open wound from a pressure injury. In many cases of an existing pressure injury wound, the initial attention will be on healing the injury and then shift to overall comfort and sleep of the individual once the injury heals. In even extreme risk cases, sleep and comfort will be a factor in the choice of what pressure care mattress is best suited.

Overall health, both physical and mental are key elements when choosing a pressure care mattress. Quality sleep, with regular deep sleep cycles are paramount to a healthier body and mind. A pressure care mattress that facilitates regular deep sleep cycles is essential in all scenarios outside of extreme pressure injury protection. The considerations for quality sleep are comfort, positioning, microclimate, sleeping environment (bedroom & home) and equipment. You need to factor in elements like the potential noise an air mattress pump may make during the night when it shifts inflation, will this be a disturbance to their ability to sleep. Will the microclimate of the room encourage more moisture with a certain mattress type and therefore have a higher risk of shear. These and many more factors need to be considered.

Risk and recovery are two key elements when choosing a pressure care mattress. How high is the risk of a potential or current pressure injury. What will best aid the recovery and overall health of the individual. If a pressure injury is the biggest risk to an individual, then that is where the focus will lead. In that scenario you need a mattress that best protects and prevents a pressure injury on a certain body area of the individual.  Most likely an air mattress is the best option.

When the risk of pressure injury is not extreme, then the focus will be on comfort, recovery and sleep. Most individuals will find a foam mattress the best option for them in this case. As always though, you must treat each situation, and each individual based on their needs and what’s best for them – getting it right matters!