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Being in bed for long hours, even when in perfect health is tiring, and it gets worse when one is bedridden or in pain. This, it’s important to make the beds as comfortable as possible so as not to cause more discomfort to the already uncomfortable patients.
One sure way to go about it is getting mattress pads for hospital beds because they are designed explicitly for bedridden individuals and thus more comfortable. And, such pads/mattress toppers are also designed to prevent some health risks that could result from being in hospital bed for a long time.
Firm mattresses might feel okay to lie on for a few minutes/hours, but they definitely become uncomfortable when you lie on them for many hours each day. In this article, we are going to look at the various mattress pads to make that firm mattress softer and more comfortable. We are also going to look at the various ways to deal with back pain, pressure sores, and pressure ulcers.
In a hurry? The top rated Hospital Mattress Topper after 25 hrs of research
The Best Hospital Mattress Topper – Top Picks and Buyer’s Guide
Mattress Toppers for Hospital Beds
When carefully selected, mattress toppers for hospital beds not only add more comfort for bedridden patients, but they also help greatly in preventing pressure sores. To get the best results, you first need to know the best type for your patient since each type works best for specific situations. Read More...
Pressure Relieving Foam Mattress Toppers
Memory foam mattress toppers are well known for their ability to provide a comfortable sleeping surface and improving one’s quality of sleep. With better sleep, everyone wakes up rejuvenated, and it’s even better for the bedridden because it helps reduce or prevent some of the health risks we mentioned above. So, if you need a softer mattress, getting a pressure relieving foam mattress topper or mattress pad for hospital beds might give a perfect solution.
If you are looking for an affordable but still high-quality pressure relieving foam mattress topper, then look no further. The Tempur material in this mattress topper conforms to the sleeper’s body for a comfortable sleep. Read More...
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Gel and Foam Mattress Toppers
100% foam mattress toppers sleep hot depending on the environment or the sleeper’s body temperature because they act as insulators. Now, if you live in a hot environment or if your body temperatures are high most of the time and you don’t like sleeping hot, you might want a different option, and gel memory foam toppers make a perfect alternative.
The patented technology in gel and foam mattress toppers helps pull the heat away from the sleepers’ body thus leaving a cooling sensation and perfect temperature for sleeping. Along with sleeping cool, these toppers are also great for pressure relief, they maintain their original shape for a long time, have no harmful fillers, and are environment-friendly.
The Lucid 4-inches thick gel memory foam mattress topper is perfectly designed to add that comfort layer on your firm mattress and make your stay in hospital bed much more comfortable. Read More...
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The only difference between this Lucid 2-inches thick gel memory foam mattress topper and the 4-inch above is just the thickness as the numbers suggest. Read More...
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Egg Crate Mattress Topper
When looking for an affordable but still good solution to soften your firm mattress or help with pressure relief, egg crate mattress toppers come at the top of the list. They are very affordable, and they still offer the needed support and comfort. They are also better at allowing airflow and thus sleep cool, and on this note, they do better than memory foam mattress toppers.
However, compared to memory foam mattresses, when it comes to relieving pressure and pain, their dips and bumps contour to your body for a comfortable sleep for some time, but because they are pliable and thin, they break down creating a permanent indentation thus reducing their effectiveness on relieving pressure.
For just a fraction of what you will be paying for any other type of memory foam mattress topper, you can get the Milliard 2-inch egg crate memory foam topper. Read More...
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The common thing about all foam mattress toppers is that they retain heat. However, this Linespa 3-inch mattress topper features a convoluted design that helps provide maximum airflow to lower the sleeping temperatures. Read More...
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Natural Latex Mattress Topper
Most of us love all things natural, and when it comes to mattress toppers, a natural latex topper is the closest we can get to a natural mattress. Made from the organic rubber tree’s sap, natural latex mattress toppers do not have any chemicals or fillers so you won’t have to deal with the smells found in most new toppers. They also resist dust mites and microbes naturally. Also to note, natural latex toppers are very durable, and they are likely to outlive your mattress.
100% Natural Latex Mattress Toppers vs. Memory Foam Toppers
Natural latex lets you sleep cooler thanks to its open cell structure as it allows better airflow. On the other hand, memory foam mattress toppers retain your body heat thus sleeping hot. Again, natural latex toppers will not give you that sinking feeling that’s common with most memory foam mattress toppers. They do not “bottom out.”
They are simply springy, resilient, and supportive. This makes it easy for you to move around or get up from your bed. However, with all this goodness comes a higher price tag than the egg crate and gel-infused memory foam mattress toppers, but it’s totally worth it.
If you need a mattress topper that will adjust to the climate to keep you cool in the scorching summer and warmer throughout the chilling months, look no further. Read More...
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Conclusion
We know that there is no one specific mattress topper that will meet the sleeping needs of everyone and this is why our reviews are as diverse as they can be. We have looked at various types of toppers based on the construction materials, thickness, and price, among others. Some materials are more breathable hence sleeping cooler, and others are thicker meaning deeper sink which could result in heat retention and difficulties with moving around the hospital bed or getting out of bed since you might feel “trapped.”
Again, based on people’s preferences and sleeping positions, we have reviewed both soft and firm mattress toppers. When you look at the price, we have given you a good range to choose, the most affordable being the egg crate mattress topper design and the most costly being the TEMPUR ProForm Supreme 3-Inch Queen Mattress Topper.
If you are looking for a mattress topper or mattress pad for hospital beds remember, go for a breathable,but still super comfortable and supportive option. This way, it can keep the user cool and also help with relieving pressure points to avoid soreness. Also, consider their sleeping positions to know whether you should go for a soft, medium, or firm option.
And, there are other ways to cool your hospital bed down if you cannot afford a natural latex mattress topper. They include breathable sheets such as tencel and bamboo. They help reduce heat retention in your bed. You can also use breathable pillow and mattress protectors to get similar results.
Products that Can Alleviate Pressure Sores
Along with the mattress toppers for hospital beds, we are going to share other products that we came across during our research that you can use to alleviate pressure sores and help you avoid some of the health risks that come with being bedridden. We hope that the below products will make a difference for you.
If one is suffering from bed pressure ulcers and soreness due to extended bedrest, the Vive Alternating Pressure Mattress will be of great help. Read More...
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Cons
This all-electric homecare bed works just like the hospital beds, and it comes with a mattress and full side rails. It’s very easy to assemble, and the only tool you need is a screwdriver and maybe some help from one more person for a quick set up. Read More...
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Health Risk of a Bedridden Patient
Now, chances are that you’re looking this up, “health risks of a bedridden patient” because one of your loved ones is being bedridden and you’d like to understand what they are going through and offer some help.
First, it takes time to adjust to being bedridden and relying on other people to do for you most of what you used to do on your own. Again, with time, some health risks might arise, and it’s good that as a family caregiver you be aware of any such risks to offer the needed solutions on time. They include:
Pulmonary Congestion or Atelectasis
Most people don’t know this but being bedridden increases the risk of atelectasis. The patients’ muscles do not work as required to remove the excess fluid and this leads to fluid buildup in their lungs, and when left unchecked it leads to collapsing of lung tissue (atelectasis).
Back Pain
This is another common health risk of a bedridden patient, and it’s as a result of remaining in the same position for too long hence putting too much pressure on their spinal column. To prevent this, rotate the patient regularly to prevent permanent spinal damage.
Depression
It takes time to adjust to being bedridden and needing someone to take care of you all the time. This takes a toll on most patients, and they end up being depressed. To prevent this, caregivers should be friendly to their patients and continuously remind them that they are not a bother. Also, help them meet most of their social and emotional needs along with the physical needs.
Sleep Problems
You need to be in a comfortable position to have a good sleep. However, due to their limited mobility, most bedridden individuals find it hard to sleep properly because they are uncomfortable most of the time, but you can help by making sure that their hospital bed is comfortable and rotating them from time to time.
Pressure Ulcers
This is the most common health risk of a bedridden patient. Being bedridden means that you have minimal mobility and you will rely on a caregiver to help you turn/rotate from one position to the other. The risk comes in when the caregiver is not around all the time or if the patient cannot communicate to let you know that they need to rotate.
This leads to low blood supply to some parts of their body which leads to the flesh dying and eventually forming sores. The worst part is if they are not noticed early enough and taken care of, the sores grow deeper and can get infected leading to more complications. To prevent this, always make sure that you are rotating your patient as often as possible.
Other Ways of Preventing Pressure Sores or Pressure Ulcers include:
Other health risks to look out for include loss of appetite, constipation, UTI, stiffness, deformity, and contractures.
We understand the process is not only hard for your bedridden loved one but for you too and this is why in the next part of our article, we are going to look at the various products that will help in case he/she will be staying in hospital bed either for short or long period. We wish you and your loved one the best.
Conclusion
Chances are that you’re looking these products up, best mattress pads for hospital beds and other products that can alleviate pressure sores, for yourself or a loved one who spends long hours in bed due to some illness. I totally understand this because I have taken care of loved ones who were in similar conditions and I wish I knew then what I know now. With the right products, both the caregiver and the care-receiver have an easy time and the sooner you get them the easier the journey becomes. We hope that you will find the right product to help with whatever condition and we wish you a quick recovery.
Note:
Medicare can pay part of the cost of an in-house hospital bed if the care receiver meets the set coverage guidelines, remember to check with the health care provider before purchasing. (Medicare Durable Medical Equipment (DME).
Other interesting Links:
http://www.carefecthomecareservices.com/blog/common-health-risks-bedridden-patient/
https://www.patientsengage.com/conditions/7-common-health-risks-bedridden-patient