Understanding Choices For Your Homecare Hospital Bed Mattress

When you are faced with a lengthy home recovery, you might need to consider a homecare bed for yourself or a loved one. The most important part of any hospital bed is the hospital bed mattress because comfort is important for anybody that is going to be bed-ridden for any amount of time. There are a variety of choices that include alternating pressure, low air loss, memory foam, inner spring and special care hospital bed mattress options that can help prevent bedsores and give added comfort, no matter what position a patient is forced to lay in.

These choices can be confusing, but it is easier to decide on the proper hospital bed mattress, once you understand the differences. Inner-spring mattresses are usually what are provided on many hospital beds because they are the most economical. These mattresses offer the least amount of patient comfort and are the least expensive. Memory foam mattresses are a little more expensive, but the difference in comfort is very noticeable because they are softer on the surface, yet give support. No matter what type of hospital bed mattress you select, they are normally six inches thick, to fit most homecare beds.

You may have heard of special purpose mattresses that are meant to be used for those that have serious wounds or that might already have problems with bedsores and pressure ulcers. For those that are obese, a bariatric mattress is normally the choice and they are a type of foam mattress. The pressure relieving mattresses are those that feature low air loss, alternating pressure, the gel or static air types of mattresses that are designed for wound care or pressure ulcer prevention and treatments.

Depending on the type of bed rest needed, these options in mattresses make it more comfortable and can help speed recovery. Sometimes, bed sores can be a problem that causes infections and slows recovery, so it is important to avoid the pressure points that cause these. Many of the mattresses that are included on rental beds and those provided by Medicare include the cheaper, inner-spring models that are known to cause more pressure points and lack comfort for the long-term bed-ridden patient. It might be important to consider some of the other choices, if it appears that a homecare bed is going to be necessary for an extended period of time.

Even in the case of those that purchase used hospital beds, a new mattress is usually something you will still want to consider because of sanitary conditions, if for no other reason. You can find affordable replacement mattresses that don't cost much more than a couple hundred dollars, although you can expect to pay around five hundred dollars for some of the more comfortable models.

It helps to consider the advantages that these more expensive mattresses can offer because they certainly can make a difference in comfort, alleviate pressure points and prevent bedsores. Because every patient is different, there are different choices that can make recovery less painful, depending on the mattress you choose for your homecare bed. Many insurance companies will pay the expense, so it helps to check your coverage, before making a decision.