I have purchased a used hospital bed which has been a great help as my DH can no longer get out of bed on his own and it makes it easier for me to get him up. However, I should replace the mattress and am so confused which one to buy as there are so many different types. I've seen egg crates, foam, traditional, etc. Has anyone purchased one and could recommend a "type" or a website. Thank you so much for all your advice and help.....this website has helped me so much....
Carole-if your husband is incontinent I would advise against the egg crate-impossible to clean and if you put lots of padding on top that defeats the whole purpose.
I have no idea but you might check out what your local Home Medical Supply has and recommends, not necessarily buying one from them. I recently purchased an adjustable Queen bed for myself and I only had 2 options. All foam or a spring type. I imagine you would have to buy one especially for a hospital bed?????? Hospice ordered a rental for my mom and it has only been 8 months and I can't remember what the mattress was like before they ordered the air or some type to help prevent bed sores. How would it work to use a quality zip-up all over waterproof allergy free cover for the mattress you now have on it, unless it is completely shot. Penney's online have a big selection.
Hospice has an excellent air pad that goes on top of the mattress. It does help with bed sores and comfort because it constantly adjust as the person moves. I think hospice provided it free since she was getting their services. But, I a sure you can buy them. Probably could get them from a Home Medical Supply place, too.
I don't know about you, but considering all the body fluids that have seeped into the old mattress, I'd just have to get a new one. I am so squeemish (?) about old mattresses. I believe it was either 60 minutes or 20/20 that did a spot on used mattresses that are sold - and the interiors are filled with old mattress materials, bed bugs, and heavy bacteria levels. I think of all the college students who buy used mattresses and cringe. How much would a new single mattress cost? Less than $200 I would guess.
I just entered "cost of hospital bed mattresses" on the keyword line and they have pressure release mattresses ranging in cost from $144. up. Just a thought! And! they are delivered to your door!!
I got a hospital bed yesterday. It seems awfully high, even at the lowest setting. My Husband is 5'6" and his feet just graze the floor. Had a hard time getting him into bed and hurt my back. The other twin bed I have is about 6 inches lower. I had put the box spring directly on the floor and he was able to put his feet down more securely. The reason I got the hospital bed was that he doesn't move at all once he is in bed. He can bend his legs, but can't get in and out of bed by himself. I wanted to be pro-active, and have something for pressure sores. He has the APP Pump Pad on the HB. Noisy and the pad is not very comfortable. Also, when there are incontinence issues one cannot put a pad on top, only a sheet. I read there is a Gel-Pad, also. Does anyone else have experience with hospital beds, low beds, pressure mattresses?
I would contact whomever you got the bed from and ask if they have one that goes lower. Or ask if they have suggestions how to lower it. A step for you hb would not help (if it would, you wouldn't need the bed).
Monika...I have one of those pad on my dh's bed. One of the Hospice aides told me to start the bed at a med. firmness and then every day or so as he gets use to it increase the pressure. My dh has a "low boy" hospital bed and it is really low to the floor and can be made higher if I need to change the bed or do somthing with him in the bed. I have Hospice and they furnish all this equipment free.
My husband insisted that he needed a Comfortaire mattress on his hospital bed, but a thick mattress made it too high and after two years he said it was a problem because it was too hard to get into bed. So I replaced it with the much thinner plastic covered mattress that came with the hospital bed, with a good quality piece of waffle foam on top and a thin waterproof pad on top of that. He is still mobile and almost always sleeps in his recliner anyway.
Insurance paid for the hospital bed, so I can't complain too much. I thought it would help him to raise his head instead of using so many pillows and raise his swelled legs, but he never does. I do resent that he insisted on a very expensive mattress and then after two years it didn't work for him. I gave it away to a friend. People are aware of the dangers of used mattresses--they are hard to sell.
Measure your hospital bed--most take a long twin mattress.
The Dr. ordered a high-low bed. Don't know if it will be approved. I also ordered a couple of medical sheepskin pads to put on the bed. I did some research and sheepskin pads help to prevent bedsores. Also, the green medical sheepskin pads can be used for incontinence and washed with hot water. I should get them by next week. Also got a recliner that pushes my DH up so I can get him out of the chair. So much easier now.
Monik...where did you order the green medical sheepskin pads from? My dh has lost so much weight and I am having to keep heavy cream on him to keep the potential of bed sores from occuring. He is mobile but sleeps an avg. of 18-20 hours a day so is in bed most of the time.
Judith, by mistake I posted about an "alternating pressure matress" in the AUGUST topic. This mattress could help your husband and Hospice would have one.
Dear JudithKB, Sorry, I just now found your question. I ordered mine at Amazon.com. There are several websites that advertise these sheepskin pads. Even a site with the 10 top sites for sheepskin pads. They are 45 inches long and 30 wide, the head part only about 12 inches. (Sorry, I didn't order it through this site, I forgot.) I would check out some other places, there are many different kinds.
sheepskin is a good choice but take caution your spouse doesnt get overheated with it and sweat. this can be counterproductive if moisture grows behind or under skin. any moisture can tend to lead to skin breakdown. i know many profess to wick moisture but do some checking. divvi
Thanks divvi, I would never have thought about that overheating. I have been keeping his red spots with the potential of bed sores in check by using Bag Balm...it works wonders. I also trying to get him to turn about every two hours or so. He can get up, but he wants to sleep all the time like 20 hours a day.
Divvi, here I thought that sheepskin in a natural product and would wick away moisture and not overheat the body. He has been sleeping on incontinence pads and the hospital bed has a plastic cover on it. I had tried putting him on the APP machine but it was also plastic with a thin sheet on top. Not very comfortable to sleep on.
there is alot of info via internet about the use of sheepskin for bedbound patients and prevention and relief from bedsores. i believe they could be of great benefit for most. my DH did not take to the pad and would pull it out from under him leaving me with the idea he was warm with it under him. they do have some for heels on the foot too which may be good as well. as long as it can be laundered and kept hygenic it should work just fine. we only know if they work if we try them! grin wool also is a natural product and wicks away moisture but some cant tolerate that padding either. try it and if it works for your spouse thats wonderful! i use the twinsize memory foam topper on DH hospital bed aand the air mattress under and so far no complaints. but hospice told me not to put too thick a pad as we want the air bubbles that fill and release to be able to do their job and move the body for pressure points. no matter what we try we must stay vigilant for the pressure areas as they do and can crop up quickly. best of luck! divvi