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I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
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VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
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I again recommend the Wondergel products - they really are superior to the egg crate and foam cushions, probably almost as good as the air-shifting pads they use on beds, but because of the need for electricity, those may not be as good on wheelchairs.
Wondergel has several products, some thicker, some less, made with a gel that has flexibility, and filled with air pockets throughout.
No matter what product, it's good to change them a couple of times during the day - same effect as making sure you turn a body in bed, when the person cannot turn themselves. Changing the seat pad shifts pressure points.
And one thing to watch with the Wondergel products is the edges - the ones with very square edges, can create a ridge that irritates at that point, where others have more rounded edges, but those ones (the thicker pads) are in covers, and not as gently soft. Use several products, including wondergel, and rotate them, watching with each change, to guard against any one spot of pressure, like an edge - or even bunched sheet - over time, any bumps can add a pressure spot.
No matter how good of a product you may use for someone in a wheelchair, at some point they're going to have some sort of discomfort or pain sooner or later. From experience with wheelchairs since I do use one due to low back arthritis, I can honestly say that the best remedy is just to get out of it and set it alternates seating
You should ask the doctor for an evaluation from a physical therapist. In addition to cushioning the buttocks, the lumbar will need support for preventing the lower back nerves from compressing. The patient will also need exercises to strengthen his core to prevent slouching, which will compress his spine, leading to lower back pain. To get you started, you can search Amazon for lumbar support cushions. I know for sure the bottom cushion is covered by insurance with proper documentation, but I don't remember if the lumbar cushion is.
Another good resource is an Occupational Therapist. In my experience, the Occupational Therapist performs the wheelchair "fitting" and I think they would have the broadest experience with wheelchair accessories such as seat cushions. I'm not sure, but you might have to ask around to find an OT who does wheelchair fittings. I would guess it's a specialty within OT.
Consider how much you anticipate the person will sit in the wheelchair. If they will be in the chair all day, you should buy the best one you can afford.
As others have said, incontinence can be an issue. My Dad's cushion wasn't waterproof (water resistant) and sure enough, it began to smell after repeated accidents with leaky Depends. I guess some urine got in the foam, probably seeped in through the zipper. Yuk.
There are a lot of products out there - egg crate foam seating products, etc. Check with a durable medical equipment store in your town - selling supplies to the public - to see if they have suggestions.
There are Temper-Pedic material made cushions that fit wheelchair seats perfectly. When you go into a medical supply store make sure you take the wheelchair as some wheelchairs seat areas are different dimentions. The cushions also come in different thicknesses so have them test it first.
Agree with the above posters. There are a ton of different types of wheelchair cushions out there for all different needs. If the person is mostly wheelchair bound it might be a good idea to go to a wheelchair clinic or a dealer that has the ability to do pressure mapping which helps them prescribe the best cushion.
Air has the least pressure of all materials, so if you can get one with air as a component, (Roho brand) this is best, never get anything that is "cut out" at buttocks, etc. this just puts the weight somewhere else. Gel is the next least, and foam is the worst and foam also allow for heat build up. Agree you can look on amazon etc for these. A Dr script means nothing as Medicare does not pay for these. Roho makes a cushion with air and foam components that I have found works very well. Also doing pressure relief where some one gets off their bottom, either by changing positions as much as possible, or standing, etc.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
Wondergel has several products, some thicker, some less, made with a gel that has flexibility, and filled with air pockets throughout.
No matter what product, it's good to change them a couple of times during the day - same effect as making sure you turn a body in bed, when the person cannot turn themselves. Changing the seat pad shifts pressure points.
And one thing to watch with the Wondergel products is the edges - the ones with very square edges, can create a ridge that irritates at that point, where others have more rounded edges, but those ones (the thicker pads) are in covers, and not as gently soft. Use several products, including wondergel, and rotate them, watching with each change, to guard against any one spot of pressure, like an edge - or even bunched sheet - over time, any bumps can add a pressure spot.
Consider how much you anticipate the person will sit in the wheelchair. If they will be in the chair all day, you should buy the best one you can afford.
As others have said, incontinence can be an issue. My Dad's cushion wasn't waterproof (water resistant) and sure enough, it began to smell after repeated accidents with leaky Depends. I guess some urine got in the foam, probably seeped in through the zipper. Yuk.
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