Getting older isn’t always easy. It can be difficult on your family, especially if you or your loved one is suffering from health problems. There are a lot of options available for elderly care, and some patients choose to age gracefully from the comfort of their own home. If you’re loved one has chosen to age in place, the most important piece of healthcare equipment for your senior is a quality healthcare mattress. Each person’s body has different needs, and there are many orthopedic mattress options available for those choosing to age in their home. Here are some of the most popular materials, and models of healthcare mattresses available to keep your loved ones comfortable.

Foam/Latex Mattresses

Unlike spring mattresses, orthopedic mattresses made of foam are designed to form to the contours of your body, offering maximum support. Memory foam mattresses are designed to reduce stress on your body’s pressure points and relieve any joint pain you may be experiencing. If your patient or loved one suffers from chronic sleepless nights, or has reoccurring joint or muscle pain that doesn’t seem to go away, a foam mattress can be the perfect fit, as long as they’re not at risk of skin breakdown.

The LTC3500 Active Care Mattress is made for patients in need of long-term care in a hospital or home environment. It offers gentle support and it’s a great alternative to memory foam. Rather than completely molding to your patient’s shape, which some can find restrictive, it’s perfect for patients who want a little more independence in bed by being able to move freely. The LTC3500 is designed for use on adjustable bed frames, and it’s excellent for patients suffering from conditions such as multiple sclerosis, or cerebral palsy.

Similar to foam mattresses, latex orthopedic mattresses are desirable because of the way they can form to the contours of a patient’s body. They also relieve stress on the major pressure points, allowing for a better night’s sleep. One of the benefits of latex mattresses is that, if taken care of, they can last anywhere from 10-12 years and still deliver the same quality support they did from day one. Latex mattresses can also be easily customized to suit a patient’s needs, and also allow for more breathability, resulting in a comfortable sleeping temperature.

For those at high-risk of developing bed sores, the LTC 7000 Latex Mattress is recommended for both its pressure distribution and its firmness. Unlike regular mattresses, the latex material used to make this mattress doesn’t break down over time, which means that you won’t form body shapes in the mattress or suffer from loss of support. This breathable, latex mattress also prevents heat buildup and sweating, allowing patients to have the deepest sleep possible.

Air Mattresses

Of course, these aren’t the type of air mattresses you blow up in a minute to let a friend spend the night in the spare room; orthopedic air mattresses are highly-sophisticated and can be perfect for ageing seniors suffering from more serious health concerns. Most high-end air beds or healthcare mattresses are equipped with air filled chambers and a foam layer on top of them for maximum comfort. These types of orthopedic mattresses work very well for patients that need to spend a lot of time in bed, because they can be adjusted daily so pressure can be dispersed throughout different points of the body. They also reduce skin breakdown, which is caused by friction, heat, and excess moisture.

The LTC 9100 Intensive Care Mattress, a foam mattress accompanied by interchangeable air inserts. The air-filled inserts used on the mattress’ surface allows patients to have optimized skin care and comfort, reducing the risk of ulcers and bed sores. The mattress is also protected by a fluid-proof, non-allergenic cover that can be easily zipped open for easy cleaning. There are also mattresses designed to provide optimized support by adjusting to the movements of the body, and a host of mattress overlays to add support to you or your loved ones already existing mattresses.

Quality air mattresses can help reduce skin breakdown and muscle pain, like the AtmosAir 9000 Mattress, which uses a self-adjusting technology that offers clinically effective pressure reduction, and maximum comfort. Nine specially positioned air cylinders located under the shoulder, torso, and seat, are designed to automatically react to body movement, altitude, and temperature by adjusting the air pressure of the cylinders. The mattress also features a “sloped heel” section that is designed to remove pressure off the ankles. With all of these features, it’s unlike any other healthcare mattress on the market today, and truly one of the best mattresses for seniors.

Powered Orthopedic Mattresses

If you’re looking for ultimate control over your patient’s mattress, then powered orthopedic mattresses may be the best choice for you. They combine the best pressure reduction technologies, allowing you to truly customize your patient’s or loved one’s care. These healthcare mattresses utilize all of the pressure reduction technology of a normal air mattress, combined with digital pressure reduction technology that allows you to manage the pressure reduction areas for your patient or loved one with ultimate precision. Unlike regular air mattresses, which can deflate over time, powered mattresses are equipped with an electronic monitor that manages the air distribution throughout, adding air automatically when needed. This low air-loss technology allows air to escape the mattress through 72 laser-cut openings located on its surface. Air is then redistributed equally under a vapor-permeable, quilted cover that acts to wick moisture away from the individual, preventing skin breakdown.

The Dyna LAL Alternating Pressure/Low Air-Loss Mattress is perfect for patients in need of customized relief, and those who are required to remain in bed. It’s designed for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers, and utilizes 18 independent 8-inch-high cells that gently inflate and deflate according to a 3:1 programmable cycle. Over time, each individual cell can be replaced if needed, and the mattress includes an external exhaust hose designed to keep patients cool. Another added benefit to using this powered orthopedic mattress is its programmed variety of modes, providing comfort for any situation: the static mode can be used for individuals who are unable to tolerate a moving surface (if they need to be moved from one place to another); the alternation mode distributes pressure throughout the mattress in a 3:1 ratio to best meet a patient’s treatment needs; and the auto-firm mode allows the mattress to become completely firm in just under 30 seconds, perfectfor patient transfers and nursing procedures. There’s also an automatic alarm in case of power failure to alert caregivers.

Buying Orthopedic Mattresses

Now that you know a bit more about the various mattresses out there, we highly recommend you talk to your patient or loved one about which may be best for them based on their needs. We also always recommend all of our customers to get in touch with an occupational therapist when trying to find the perfect healthcare mattress. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.