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Choosing the right Wheelchair cushion
The right cushion can help prevent pressure injuries
Pressure injuries affect approximately 2.5 million U.S. patients each year, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.1 And treatment for those injuries can cost up to $20,000 per patient.2 But experts agree that pressure injuries for wheelchair users are preventable—at a fraction of the cost of treatment, and with an improved quality of life for both residents and caregivers.
The benefits of gel and foam wheelchair cushions
According to the NIH, wheelchair users should sit on a gel or foam seat cushion that fits the chair to help prevent pressure injuries,3 and the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability suggests using pressure-redistributing cushions to maintain tissue integrity.4 The right wheelchair cushion also can aid with improving posture and sitting tolerance.
AliMed has a wide range of gel and foam wheelchair cushions to prevent the occurrence of pressure injuries and the subsequent costs of treating them, helping make your residents comfortable and safe, while freeing caregivers from continually repositioning residents.
- Premium Gel Wheelchair Cushions provide maximum skin protection and shear reduction
- Economy Gel Wheelchair Cushions give basic pressure relief for low-to-moderate-risk residents
- Premium Foam Wheelchair Cushions have “Slow Recovery” T-Foam™ for optimal pressure redistribution
- Air Cell Wheelchair Cushions provide protection for your most fragile residents
Using the right wheelchair cushion has been shown to lessen the risk of pressure injuries, improve posture, and prevent falls—giving you and your residents the peace of mind you both deserve.
References
- Preventing Pressure Ulcers in Hospitals, https://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/systems/hospital/pressureulcertoolkit/putool1.html
- The cost of healing pressure ulcers across multiple health care settings. Xakellis GC, Frantz R. Adv Wound Care. 1996 Nov-Dec; 9(6): 18-22. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9069752
- Medline Plus, Preventing Pressure Ulcers, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000147.htm
- Prevent Pressure Ulcers for Wheelchair Users, http://blog.ncpad.org/2016/09/26/prevent-pressure-ulcers-for-wheelchair-users/
