Managing a care home involves myriad challenges and problems on a daily basis. Ensuring that care home residents and short-term patients are looked after to an optimal level takes great care and attention to detail. One of the biggest areas in which you can improve the comfort of your residents is by taking the time to choose the best contract bedding and healthcare mattress to meet a wide spectrum of needs.
Let’s take a look at a few of the factors that you must consider when choosing a healthcare mattress for a care home setting.
Types of mattresses
There are a few different types of mattresses that you can choose for your care home. Each has its own pros and cons, and you should always speak with a professional contract bedding manufacturer to put together a package that suits the specific needs of your care home.
- Sprung mattress
Popular in care homes as they have a supportive design, featuring firm yet comfortable springs and metal coils that are durable. One of the biggest benefits to a sprung mattress is that they can be used with almost all types of bed frames, including profile beds.
- Supportive design featuring durable metal coils and firm yet comfortable springs.
- Compatible with most bed frames, including profiling beds.
- Long-lasting and cost-effective.
- Foam mattress
This type of mattress is comfortable, lightweight, and easy to move around. This makes them a popular choice in care homes as it benefits both the residents and caregivers on a daily basis. The foam conforms to the contours of each body, providing personalised support.
- Lightweight and easy to move, making them ideal for both residents and caregivers.
- Contours to the body, providing personalised support and pressure relief.
- Reduces movement disturbances for a better night’s sleep.
- Castellated mattress
Specifically designed to be used with profiling beds, castellated mattresses allow the mattress to bend and move along with the flexible bed frame, adding a level of comfort and support to the resident in a multitude of positions.
- Specifically designed for use with profiling beds.
- Allows the mattress to bend and adjust with the bed frame.
- Enhances comfort and support in multiple positions.
Choosing a Mattress for Profiling Beds
Profiling beds are essential in care homes, particularly for residents with mobility issues. These beds assist with positioning for better sleep, improved posture, and more comfortable eating positions. When selecting a mattress for a profiling bed, consider the following:
Safety
This should always be the most important consideration. Look for side rails that keep patients and residents safe within the confines of the bed, braking systems to help with stability, and look at different safety features to suit the specific needs of the residents you have in your care home.
- Side rails for resident security.
- Braking systems for stability.
- Customisable safety features to meet individual needs.
Comfort
Adjustable mattress platforms, backrests, and other comfort accommodations fit perfectly with certain types of mattress to promote effective redistribution of weight that helps to reduce the instances of bed sores and pressure ulcers.
- Adjustable platforms and backrests to accommodate various comfort needs.
- Pressure redistribution to help prevent bed sores and pressure ulcers.
Ease of Maintenance and controls
Simple controls and ease of operation are crucial for beds in a care home. There is the need for fast movement and assistance where long-term care is concerned. A bed and mattress combination that supports caregivers in assisting residents effectively should always be the first choice.
- Simple, intuitive controls for easy operation by caregivers.
- Quick adjustments for efficient resident support.
- Durable materials for long-term use.
Partnering with the Right Supplier
Choosing the right type of mattress and bedding for your care home will make a significant difference to the levels of comfort that your residents experience on a daily basis. Mattress manufacturing takes great precision and the very best and latest techniques and materials to be successful.
Partnering with a textiles supplier that has the history and success of providing contract bedding to care homes, hospitals, and other healthcare settings where the need for robust, hygienic, and comfortable mattresses is imperative to the recovery and treatment of patients and residents.
For expert guidance on selecting the best mattresses for your care home, speak to our team today.
