Comfort aids are highly helpful to provide comfort to elderly or disabled persons. A pressure relief cushion is one of the important comfort aids that help prevent development of pressure sores and ulcers in people with mobility restrictions.

Another useful comfort aid is the slippers for swollen feet that help people with edema walk comfortably without causing any strain.

However, you need to understand that if you want them to last longer, you need to take proper care of them.

So, let's explore some caring tips for these two essential comfort aids one by one.

Caring Tips for Your Pressure Relief Cushion

A pressure relief cushion lasts longer only when you properly wash it on a regular basis.

Here are the general cleaning tips for various types of pressure cushions.

However, before we proceed, you should follow one common tip: check for wear and tear in your cushion always before cleaning and keep a spare cushion for use while the other one dries.

• Foam Cushions

Don't use soap to clean these cushions. Simply use a damp cloth to wipe it clean after removing its cover. Submerging them straight into the water for cleaning or using bleach for cleaning them may damage them.

After you have wiped them clean, always air-dry them instead of autoclaving or steam drying them.

Also, avoid covering your cushion with a towel or any other cloth to keep it clean because doing so may reduce its effectiveness.

• Air Cell Cushions (like ROHO cushion)

These pressure cushions generally consist of inflatable air-filled neoprene rubber cells. You can wash this type of cushions in a washing machine using cold water and mild detergent.

Ensure that you wash it on the gentle washing cycle and tumble-dry it at the lowest temperature.

You can also wash it in a large sink using a mild detergent and a soft-bristled brush. Make sure you close the air valve before immersing it in water.

After you have cleaned it, use fresh water to rinse it clean and then air-dry it.

• Fluid-Filled or Gel Cushions

Wash these types of cushions in a washing machine on the gentle washing cycle and tumble-dry it at low heat. Use only mild soap and water to clean its fluid and gel parts, wipe excess moisture off using a clean towel and air-dry it.

Caring Tips for Slippers for Swollen Feet

These slippers are very useful for those with edema due to underlying medical conditions like diabetes or temporary external injuries.

To ensure their long life, you should take proper care of them.

So, here are some general cleaning tips for you to follow when cleaning them.

• Check if they are machine-washable

Before washing them, always check whether they are suitable for machine-washing or not. If they are using a short, slow spin and a low temperature when washing them is recommendable. If they aren't, hand-wash them, rub them thoroughly after a short soak in warm water.

Rinse them thoroughly before draining the excess water out of them.

• Never wring them

Wringing your slippers may result in the loss or distortion of their shape. Instead, use a towel to soak extra water that still remains after rinsing them.

• Protect them from unnecessary dirt

When in open but not in use, slippers tend to collect extra dirt. This dirt may clog pores and take away their finish. Overtime, the material may wear out rendering slippers unappealing and ineffective.

Therefore, covering them with a cloth or putting them in a shoe-rack after use is a good idea to make them last longer.

• Treat Foul Smells and Odors

Prolonged use may cause your slippers to start stinking. For smells and odors, using Sodium Bicarbonate may work well. It acts as a dry shampoo that you can sprinkle inside and leave for a few hours, and then extract it with a vacuum cleaner.

You can also sprinkle a shoe spray to prevent them from stinking.

The Final Takeaway

A pressure cushion and slippers for swollen feet are two of the vital comfort aids. Just like any other comfort aid, they also need to be taken proper care of.

Following the above-mentioned caring tips for both of them can help you make them last longer and serve their purpose better.

A pressure relief cushion is of great help to those with mobility restrictions. They help prevent development of pressure sores and maintain skin integrity in bed-bound or wheelchair-bound people. Sometimes, finding a suitable pressure cushion may be tricky just like in the case of other mobility aids.

Though a professional's recommendation is always the first thing to seek for, considering some basic factors while selecting the pressure cushion may simplify your process a little.

So, let's walk you through what all points to bear in mind while selecting a pressure cushion.

• Pelvic Stability

Pelvic stability is an important factor to consider while selecting a pressure cushion. The pressure relief cushion you choose should provide you with sufficient pelvic stability.

This means that your pelvis should be in a 'neutral' position. It shouldn't rotate forwards or backwards. A proper coordination between your lower trunk and proximal posterior muscles helps attain stability in your spine. A stable spine helps the trunk extend properly keeping your body straight. Thus, not only your posture stays straight but also your abdomen and chest don't feel unnecessary pressure that facilitates proper breathing and digestion. Further, a stable pelvis and spine may facilitate using your arms without losing your upper body control.

To achieve pelvic stability, matching the contours of the cushion surface with those of your posterior may be a good idea.

• Immersion

Bottoming out is the condition when the pressure relief cushion doesn't provide adequate support resulting in the transfer of the person's weight to the bed base. If this happens, the pressure cushion may induce pain. Even worse, a person may develop Ischial Tuberosity or Ischial bursitis (severe inflammation of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac between tendons and muscles in Ischia, the bones in the base of pelvis) overtime.

Therefore, ensuring that your cushion supports 'immersion' is advisable. A cushion that is not too soft or easily compressible but still lets your body to sink without bottoming out may be a good choice.

• Off-Loading

Off-loading is removing the pressure from a small surface area (Ischial Tuberosities, lower pelvic bones) and distributing it to a greater surface area (to femur and thigh bones). This helps even distribution of pressure that provides more stability and skin-protection.

• Envelopment

Apart from immersion, envelopment is also a crucial factor. Immersion and envelopment are often inter-linked.

After ensuring you sink well into the cushion without bottoming out, you should also ensure that your cushion provides envelopment. This means that it envelops your bony areas and distributes pressure across the entire surface area.

This reduces pressure on bony areas preventing their inflammation.

• Heat

The increase in heat may lead to the development of ulcers. So, choosing a pressure cushion that keeps your body temperature optimal is recommendable. If you tend to perspire more, a gel cushion may help slow down the rise in body temperature and keep your body cool.

On the contrary, if you tend to feel colder, a standard foam cushion can give you extra insulation.

• Waterproofing

If you suffer from incontinence issues, a simple cushion may not suffice for you. A cushion provides adequate water-proofing may work well. Such a cushion won't only keep you dry but also prevent damage to your skin from continuous moisture.

• Fire Retardancy

Ensure that your pressure cushion is fire-proof and complies with the British Standards Institute (BSI) for pressure cushions, especially if you smoke often or need support getting up from your wheelchair or bed in an emergency.

• Portability

If you travel frequently and need to transport your cushion from one place to another, the weight of the pressure cushion also matters. A foam or gel cushion may not be as easily transportable as an air cushion due to it being heavier.

Hence, an air cushion may be an ideal choice for easy and frequent transportation.

In a Nutshell

A pressure relieving cushion is one of the essential mobility aids for the individuals bound to spend hours in sitting/seated or supine position. However, it is important to bear in mind that all mobility aids are useful only when you choose them wisely. Hence, if you consider the factors mentioned above while selecting a pressure cushion, it may help you arrive at the right decision easily.