Caring for the Elderly brings you to all kinds of new ideas to make life comfortable and cozy, especially when most of the time is spent in bed!
If you have been following my blog posts you know all about how we (my other half and I ) are caring for my mother! She is in her mid-90's and not in the best of health. After a fall and a hospital stay, she is pretty much bed-ridden at this point in her life.
That is not particularly great for anyone but when you are elderly, it can be even more problematic. Bed sores from constant pressure on certain body parts are a reality that must be dealt with.
A while ago Margaret Schindel did a whole series on her new bed and the amazing mattress, you can read some of her review here.. She highly recommends it and what stuck with me was the memory foam layer in the mattress construction.
We have a hospital bed for our Omi (that's her nickname), that helps us to position her so that she can watch TV, read, or just relax. It also helps us to take care of her other needs as it raises and lowers so that our backs aren't quite so stressed. But while those are great features, the mattress left a lot to be desired.
Within a month she was feeling pain in certain areas of her back, so we knew we had to do something to mitigate that pain. Enter the Memory Foam Mattress Topper!
We decided to go with a 3 inch Gel Memory Foam Topper with a removeable cover. With elderly people you have to be able to wash the cover often, but we also have mattress protectors for double insurance against leaks and other problems.
We love that this Mattress Topper is affordable and has some really great features as well. It is made of high density foam that gives great back and general body support while still being breathable.
Having the body supported fully lets the spine relax in a neutral position and the muscles also relax. Sleep is enhanced and there is no morning soreness.
The Bamboo Fiber Cover is skin friendly and breathable. It has adjustable elastic straps and an anti-slip surface so that once placed on the mattress, it will not move easily.
We like that it comes with a 10 year warranty. The only downside was that when we first got it, we needed to let the topper air out! It did have that new foam smell to it, but with it being placed out on the balcony for a day, that completely disappeared and we have not smelled it since.
All in all, this topper has been a life saver and Omi is no longer complaining about soreness anywhere. So we know that it is doing what it's supposed to do.
In our later years, we all want to be as comfortable as possible and this is a great, affordable and easy fix. Bed Sores are not something that anyone would want to have and if they are left untreated, they can become infected. So let's stop them from happening! We have enough problems without adding ones that don't have to be there.
I hope this helps anyone else in our position, or anyone who has difficulty sleeping. Try a Memory Foam Topper for your bed and see what kind of a difference it can make for you!
This memory foam mattress topper sounds like the perfect solution for providing good comfort and sleep for anyone who has to spend a great deal of time in bed. Glad you found it for your mom, Olivia.
ReplyDeleteWe bought a memory foam mattress topper when I started with back pain and found it very good and really helped my sleep comfort. It is wonderful this product is providing that additional comfort and support for your Mum. With good support and breathable, a removable cover and long guarantee it sounds invaluable.
ReplyDeleteWe have had memory foam mattresses now for over 30 years and they have been replaced as needed. I was first introduced to foam mattresses when our son was born and I needed one in the hospital (an egg crate style was prescribed by a doctor there) I have slept on a memory foam mattress ever since. They make a world of difference for me. I am so glad you found one that works for your Omi. You guys are awesome to work so hard to care for her.
ReplyDeleteThese are great suggestions for anyone confined to their bed.
ReplyDeleteBefore we purchased our current Saatva mattress with its memory foam layer (and thank you so much for linking to my review!), we had either memory foam mattresses or a latex foam mattress with a memory foam topper. That thick layer of memory foam does, indeed, make a world of difference in terms of comfort. I’m so glad you were able to get one for your beloved, bedridden mom. I’m sure she is grateful! And bed sores in the elderly are no joke, as I know from caring for my bedridden parents at the ends of their lives. Thank you for the great recommendation.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to all of this re trying to find comfort for a loved one who is bed ridden. Great suggestions here. We pretty much went through a whole process as well. Mom had to switch to a hospital bed as well. My heart goes out to you because caregiving is very straining on our minds mostly - physically too when we're up in our years. You're doing an amazing job caring for your mom.
ReplyDelete