As surprising as it may sound, a good night’s sleep has as much to do with the mattress that you’re using, as many other factors you might attribute to a peaceful night’s sleep.  Mattresses not fitted for your particular back needs may lead to chronic back pain, trouble sleeping, even insomnia.  Certain mattresses work best for certain people, just as certain mattresses will not work well for certain people, and could potentially be counter-productive to your overall back health.  This is why, when choosing a mattress to best fit your back care needs, whether it is a standard spring mattress, or a top of the line mattress overlay with memory foam support, it is always best to do your research first, instead of learning the hard way later on.

While it is recommended to replace your mattress every 8-10 years, many people may be sleeping on the worst kind of mattress for their back, and not even know it.  Spring babes require replacement every 10-12 years or so, while slat bases will require replacement about every 8 years.  For hygienic reasons however, many mattress experts conclude that you should try to replace your mattress every 5 years for optimal back and overall health.  Although this may sound a bit extreme, replacing your mattress is often an excellent opportunity to find a new and better mattress more formulated to adjust to your ever changing body and health needs.

As people grow older their bodies begin to change and so do their health needs.  An older body will not be as sturdy as it once was, and will require a softer, but still firm bed.  Now even though it is important for an older back that the mattress be soft, it shouldn’t be too soft where it might create difficulties for an older person trying to get out of bed.  The mattress also needs to be even as well, and not have too many peaks, or lumps that may have formed in an older mattress due to day to day use over many years.

When shopping for a mattress the number one thing you need to remember, is that quality matters.  While quality may not be as important in many of the other things you buy, when it comes to mattresses, it should be your primary concern.  When it comes to quality, price ranges will vary from very affordable to high end.  It is important to first consult with a back care expert prior to purchasing a mattress, to understand what the best type of mattress to fit your needs is.

The highest end types of mattresses you can buy today are mattress overlay systems that are made out of memory foam or viscoelastic.  Viscoelastic foam was developed over 30 years ago by two men working at NASA.  It was originally intended to be a lightweight foam designed for rocket insulation and space shuttles, but it is now beginning to make its entry into the mattress market.  While there may be hundreds of different types of mattresses out there, and you might seem confused about which one to buy, the best mattress is always the one that gives you the best night’s sleep while being the option that is best for your back care needs as well.

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If a friend, loved one, or close family member is suffering from chronic pain in their back, legs, neck and joints, there is a good chance it might have a lot to do with the mattress they’re currently using.  Many mattresses today, while still made of good quality, may be doing their back and neck more harm than you may realize.  Even the most expensive, high quality mattress, if not specifically designed with back care needs in mind, can only perpetuate what already might be a very nagging problem.  So how do you go about finding the best mattress to fit specific back care needs, and what type of mattresses are specifically designed for optimum back and neck health.

While one size may fit all for Snuggies, or adjustable baseball hats, one size definitely does not fit all for mattresses.  Because of the fact that everyone’s body is different, and certain areas might need more care and attention than others, buying just any old mattress can be potentially harmful to your overall back and neck health.  Even the most expensive, high quality mattress can be potentially counterproductive if it is not made your with optimal back health in mind.

However, today there is a specially designed mattress made specifically for people with back and neck problems, known as an alternating pressure mattress.  An alternating pressure mattress is a pressure relief mattress made with state of the art memory foam that can help those who suffer from neck and back pain, with a more comfortable and healthy sleep.  But how do alternating pressure mattresses work, and can they really help with severe neck and back pain?

According to many neck and back care experts, alternating pressure mattresses can be one of the best things you can buy to assure proper back health.  Because the average person spends 1/3 of every day sleeping, the type of mattress they use everyday becomes very important to their overall back health.  Even if a person is aware of their back problems, and takes the necessary steps to fix it, such as stretching, yoga, back massages, and even surgery, if they are sleeping on the wrong kind of mattress, their back problems may only continue to worsen.

The reason an alternating pressure mattress is so effective is because it is specifically designed to provide the correct amount of support to various parts of the body as needed.  This alternative pressure approach helps to evenly distribute a person’s weight, making it far different from a standard mattress which might cause unneeded pressure on different areas of the body.  This means that for people suffering from severe back, and neck pain, that their lower back, for instance, isn’t forced to bear the brunt of the weight support, which can only make matters worse.  With alternative pressure technology, the back and neck are more comfortably supported, causing fewer back and neck problems in the immediate future, and down the line as well.

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Caring for a bedridden patient in your home can be challenging and time consuming even with some of the best conveniences that are available such as adjustable beds that make it easier to make the patient more comfortable, and an alternating pressure mattress that works wonders to prevent bedsores. Even the most caring and compassionate person can still benefit from a little help now and then.  Your doctor or health care practitioner should be able to help you contact a home care agency in your area.  Home care agencies generally provide several different kinds of services based on the individual’s needs.  Depending on the patient, you may request one or a combination of these services.  Some of the most commonly used services are detailed here:

Personal Care
Personal care is often one of the most difficult aspects of caring for any elderly or bedridden patient. Maintaining a sense of dignity is often difficult and patients can become very demoralized and embarrassed.  Having a home care aide perform some of these tasks can make the situation take on more of a professional rather than personal nature, thus alleviating the stress on both patient and caregiver.  If the patient suffers from incontinence, needs help dressing and bathing, a home care aide for personal care can be a real life saver.

Nutritional Care
Proper nutrition is vital to the health of every patient and a dietician or nutritionist will help the caregiver design healthy menus that are personalized to the patient’s dietary needs.

Physical Therapy
Bedridden patients often require physical therapy to keep muscles and joints moving and functional.  They will also instruct caregivers in the use of special equipment that may be used to promote a patients physical health.

Nursing Care
A registered nurse can work closely with the doctor of an in home patient to ensure that his/her health status is monitored and that proper treatment stays on course.  A nurse can monitor IV treatments, give injections, dispense medications and dress wounds.  Nurses can be invaluable for the home caregiver for both their medical expertise and their emotional support.

Occupational therapy
An occupational therapist will work with individuals and access their capabilities to complete tasks.  They will then make suggestions as to how to improve those processes, and help to implement those new techniques.

Speech therapy
In cases where speech impairment exists, a speech therapist can come into the home to work on speech improvements as well as to help develop alternate methods of communication.

Homemaker service
A homemaker will help with light daily chores such as doing dishes, tidying, vacuuming, laundry or preparing meals.  Duties can be determined on an individual basis between the caregiver and the homemaker aide.

Volunteers
Volunteers from the community often work with home care agencies to provide companionship, transportation to and from appointments and help with daily activities like shopping, correspondence and getting outside.  

Pet Therapy
Somewhat new to the home care service industry, pet therapy is proving itself to be a real winner!  Many patients who have been pet owners through their lives find the visit from a furry friend to be very calming and enjoyable.
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If you’re taking on the responsibility of caring for an elderly parent in your home, you’ll want to know the best ways to prepare for their arrival. These nine essential rules will help you get ready for new role:

1.Get informed

.Just as you organize and take care of your own financial, health and legal files, it’s important you have access to the same information belonging to your elderly parent. If possible, try and collect information and actual records of the following (some of which you may need to help access special services and healthcare for your parent):
.Social security number
.Healthcare insurance details. Is your parent receiving Medicare? If so, do you have detailed information regarding the benefits of this service? You will need to copy the back and front of all their health insurance cards and policies.
.Details of other healthcare providers, e.g, dentist, pharmacy, optometrist.
.A list of all the medications your parent is taking, dosage amounts and instructions for taking them. Take this information with you to every medical appointment.
.Copies of past medical records, including date and results of recent medical tests e.g, x-rays, MRIs, CT scans

Do you know if your parent has made any of the following – a will, durable power of attorney for finances, durable power of attorney for healthcare, a living will? Some of these will help you take care of and make decisions for your elderly parent if their health condition deteriorates to a point where they are unable to represent themselves. If not, you might want to arrange to help your parent prepare these legal documents. When necessary, consult a lawyer specializing in elderly law. If some of these documents have already been drawn up, make sure you have access to the records and are aware of their content.

Make sure you are aware of your loved one’s financial matters. Do they have bank accounts? Do they receive regular income from social security, pension programs or through other channels? Do they own any assets, property or real estate? How much is their home worth? Do they have any other investments, stocks or IRAs? If possible, talk to your elderly parent about how they might wish you to help manage or arrange their financial matters.

2. Do your research
If your loved one has particular medical conditions, make sure you are well informed about what they are. Talk to their physicians and take the time to obtain reading matter from the library or book stores. Being informed will help you provide the best possible care for your elderly parent and will also make your task easier since you will gain valuable advice. You may even find supporting services that will help you with their care.

3.Call a family meeting
Your elderly parent might be living with you but that doesn’t always mean the full responsibility of their care should fall on your shoulders. Call a family meeting involving all those who are interested in the care of your parent. Express any desires for additional help you have and how your family members can be involved. Talk about important decisions that have to be made regarding your parent and try to get input that will be useful. Allow everyone to have a chance to express their feelings and wishes.

4. Know your community resources
Gather information about your community’s local services. They may include senior centers and adult day centers. Or you might find useful meal delivery and transportation support services, as well as home health agencies. Also, contact your local social services department to discover other services you might benefit from. There is valuable information you can access via the internet including support groups and forums for elderly caregivers. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends and family for advice too – those who have experience in taking care of an elderly loved-one might have a wealth of information to share with you, too.

5. Look out for these symptoms
Many people believe that incontinence, signs of confusion, depression, or loss of sight, hearing or memory, are symptoms to be expected in the elderly. However, many fail to realize that these are often treatable conditions and could be side effects of prescription drugs. If you notice any of these symptoms in your elderly parent, take them to their physician. Failure to report them could lead to unnecessary functional decline in your loved one.

6. Hire a care manager
This is another resource you might find to be a great help. These professionals are trained to assess your loved-one’s particular needs and make recommendations about services which could benefit them. They will help you make the most of community resources and will also hire and manage paid caregivers on your behalf. Visit the website for the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (www.caremanager.org) to help you locate a care manager near you.

7. Consult your elderly parent as much as possible
If your elderly parent is in a healthy state of mind, it is vital that you talk to and consult them about every aspect of their care – after all, much of your responsibility will be to make sure they are comfortable and happy with their environment, daily routine and how they are being cared for. Gain as much input from them as possible about their needs, wishes and preferences. In all aspects, involve them in decision-making as much as possible. This will help them maintain control of their affairs and will make for a better patient – caregiver relationship.

8. Take care of yourself
Despite all your good intentions, if you don’t take care good care of yourself, you may be of little emotional and practical help to your elderly parent. If you feel you are becoming over-tired and stressed because of your new responsibilities, don’t be afraid to ask for help and support from other family members and friends, or even community services, who will allow you to take a break when needed. Make time for yourself – to relax and for your own interests so that you don’t feel like your entire life has been taken over by your role as a caregiver. In addition, make sure you don’t neglect your own meals and healthcare as you look after these needs for your elderly parent.
Acknowledge any feelings you have related to your parent’s need for care – sadness, frustration, anxiousness about their future. Write your feelings down in a journal or enlist a listening ear if it helps. Bottling up emotions instead of confronting them can cause additional emotional stress. Take good care of yourself and your role as a caregiver will stay manageable.

9. Purchase or hire good equipment
There are lots of tools and devices available for purchase today that can make life for your elderly loved-one (and you!) easier and more comfortable. Consider if both you and your parent might benefit from equipment such as wheelchairs and wheelchair ramps, eating or dressing aids, walkers or rollators, bathroom and toileting aids, physical therapy accessories and incontinence aids. Since the elderly are more susceptible to bed sores, consider investing in a pressure mattress or alternating pressure mattress that will help prevent these uncomfortable and serious wounds. Research the variety of elderly-aids on offer to help you give your precious loved-one the best care possible.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention http://www.volkner.com as the original source).