different-types-pressure-care-mattress

Different Types of Pressure Care Mattresses

Published On: 4th November 2021

10 Minute Read

Buying Guides | Healthcare Equipment | Pressure Care | Product Comparisons

With so many different types of pressure care mattresses available, it can be difficult to know what the best option is. Ultimately, it comes down to the needs of the user, their mobility level and how ‘at risk’ they are of developing pressure ulcers.

Pressure ulcer risk assessment

The Waterlow Scorecard is a validated tool for carrying out a risk assessment and should be used with clinical judgement. More can be found on the Judy Waterlow website.

Once you have assessed the resident or patient, you can now identify which pressure care mattress will suit their needs. Below outlines the different types of pressure care mattresses and what they should be used for.

waterlow-score-card-example

Different Types of Pressure Care Mattresses

Foam Mattress or Static Mattress

  • Reduce pressure across the support surface of the mattress through pressure redistribution.
  • Offers reactive therapy by constantly applying pressure to the skin and underlying tissues.
  • Modular or castellated foam cubes react independently to each other, conforming to the resident’s body.
  • Pressure is relieved when the resident moves either independently or through manual repositioning.
  • Come with breathable protective covers to minimise sweat and moisture
  • Shear and friction may also be reduced with this type of surface
  • Designed to work with profiling beds (See Side Rail Regulations below)

Risk Level – Foam mattresses are generally used for lower-risk residents with a degree of independent mobility.

low-risk-foam-mattress

Air Mattress or Alternative /Dynamic Mattress

  • Designed with pockets or cells of air.
  • Powered through an electrical pump that alternates the air in different cells.
  • The pump works through various cycles, offering pressure relief and tissue offloading through active therapy.
  • Inflated cells provide pressure to support the user whilst deflated cells provide relief for the user’s skin
  • Designed to work with profiling beds (See Side Rail Regulations below)

Risk Level – Air mattresses are designed for residents at higher risk of pressure ulcers or those with existing pressure ulcers. Widely used for resident’s who are unable to move by themselves.

Hybrid Mattress

  • Hybrid mattresses combine both foam and air into one support surface.
  • Widely used for those that might need varying levels of care or therapy.
  • Provides pressure relief through the air cells whilst providing comfort and support through the foam layer.
  • Requires a pump to alternate the air cells
  • Designed to work with profiling beds (See Side Rail Regulations below)

Risk Level – Hybrid mattresses are used for residents with varying levels of pressure ulcer risk.

medium-risk-hybrid-mattress

Side Rail Regulations for profiling beds:

As well as different types of pressure care mattresses, you can also get them in different sizes. One thing to keep in mind when buying a mattress is the depth of the mattress compared to any bed siderails you might have.

Bed rails are used widely in hospital and care home environments to reduce the risk of residents or patients falling out of bed. However, the MHRA and the Health and Safety Executive often receive reports of incidents including:

  • Trapping between poorly fitting mattresses and bedrails
  • Rolling over the top of the bedrails when overlay mattresses reduce their effective height
  • Trapping between the bedrail and mattress, headboard or other parts because of poor bedrail positioning

To check if you are compliant in your care facility, check out our Bed Rail Ruler Guide to assess the 4, bed rail measurement points to consider. These are too big to print onto A4 paper with the correct scale, so if you would like hard copies of these sent to you, please get in touch.

bed-rail-ruler-guide

We hope this gives you a brief overview of the different types of mattresses used in pressure care management. If you need further help and advice, please request a call back from our friendly team.