Help choosing the right ROHO cushion for armchair?

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beeko7 Asked February 2018

Help choosing the right ROHO cushion for armchair?

My 96 year old grandmom has developed a large bedsore/bruise on her coccyx that isn't going away. We think it is from spending much of the day sitting in her armchair. I recently learned of ROHO cushions as a good remedy for pressure sores, but there is such a variety of options available–– high/low profile, number of cells, contoured/not contoured. Many of them are evidently intended for wheelchair use. She still walks and occasionally uses a wheelchair when there is far to walk. I'm not sure how to choose the one that would be best suited to her situation. Are there any considerations with regard to the high/low profile issue besides seat height? Her present armchair is a good height for her right now, so I imagine she wouldn't want to go too high profile or she will struggle to get seated, but we could always get her a lower seat if higher profile cushions are better for some reason. Another potential issue is that she has a tendency to slide down in her seat when she puts her feet up, which is most of the time. So would that be a reason to get a contoured cushion––to keep her further back on the seat? Or would a contoured cushion be too restrictive for an armchair situation? Lastly, cost––holy cow these cushions are expensive ($350+)! In searching for them, I've come upon similar, but to varying degrees more affordable cushions made by other companies (Kolbs, Drive Medical Balanced Aire Adjustable,...). Are any of these any good? Or are there any you'd recommend? ROHO also offers a couple of drastically less expensive ones (their "MOSAIC" and "LTV" cushions are both under $100). Why the price disparity? Are they inferior in some way? Wow, long post! If you've made it this far, thanks for reading. I look forward to your advice!

Bed Sores Mobility Product

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score 0 · Answer 1

That sounds very costly. So many aids can be recycled as walkers and stools but never see these cushions. Maybe a skilled nursing facility could direct you.

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score 0 · Answer 2

Yes, see a doctor.

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score 1 · Answer 3

Piggybacking on Barbs suggestion of having a therapist do an evaluation, also ask the dr to order Home Health to treat the sore. If mom is on original medicare, Medicare will pay for HH and they can coordinate the PT evaluation.

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score 2 · Answer 4

Colloidal silver is the best, I went on you tube to learn to make my own as it is expensive and unregulated, which the FDA is trying to change as it works so incredibly good. If anyone is interested please do a msg on my board, I would love to share. Example, I had an allergic reaction to coconut oil which caused systic acne, nothing would clear it up, made a batch spray it on daily no more acne. I spent 3 years and untold money trying to fix whatever went wonky with my skin, doctors could do nothing.

Didn't mean to hijack the post, I just know how awful those sores can become, a lady at dad's AL had to have a suction machine on for months trying to heal one. Poor thing.

Best of luck getting mom healed and a product that stops future issues.

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score 1 · Answer 5

corinna, please look at the comment by madzeena which is the third one above your question. You'll see it was the founder's first and middle initial R.H. with the periods, which were written as circles, enlarged into the letter "O".

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score 0 · Answer 6

Corinna, it doesn't really stand for anything, it is a brand name.

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score 0 · Answer 7

What does ROHO stand for?

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score 0 · Answer 8

See the physician pronto. Don't let this pressure sore turn into a bad infection.

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score 1 · Answer 9

Thanks, madzeena; this was interesting reading!

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score 2 · Answer 10

Good point Cwillie. Being proactive is synonymous with out of pocket.
I do like the suggestions for changing positions and keeping skin moisturized so will work with that approach for now.
As for the name ROHO here's a link to a story on the company
bnd.com/living/liv-columns-blogs/answer-man/article70731142.html
If that doesn't work basically the inventor's name was Robert Henry and the "O"s came from the periods after his initials. File that in the strange but true category.

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score 3 · Answer 11

I tried the pillows but for my DH, it was more keeping him clean.

You can successfully use Colloidal Silver Gel to heal bed/pressure sores. It takes time but it does remove the pain and burning.

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score 3 · Answer 12

Believe or not, my dad was not comfortable in a Roho air cushion. Luckily, my friend let us try it for a month before considering buying.
What ended up working for him was the "Ultimate Seat" by Purple Mattress. He has a very bony behind and so far, no breakdowns! It's 20" seat, yet it works for us.

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score 0 · Answer 13

those pool blow up rings are just as helpful and so cheap don't have to blow up, you can fill with water

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score 2 · Answer 14

Like I said earlier...for us at least, anytime mom spends much time in the wheelchair... and I have purchased 5 different, expensive cushions...she gets red pressure spots. She only weighs 75lbs so has no padding of her own. She has never had a pressure sore or ulcer because I address it immediately. This is why we purchased a recliner with electric control, for smoother transition and more adjustment options. It was not an expensive one and we got it on clearance... Under $150. We added an alternating pressure mattress pad from Amazon, about $80. She also has one on her bed. Even at stage 7 Alzheimer's, she likes to be in the living room during the daytime. Mom has not walked in over 2 years and has never had a pressure ulcer. We also feed her food rich in protein and keep her skin moist with ointments and lotion.

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score 0 · Answer 15

madzeena--I also googled ROHO and never found an answer (at least not the appropriate one for these cushions). Were you successful in finding out what the acronym meant, or if it actually is an acronym rather than a name?

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score 2 · Answer 16

I too wondered why mom's wheelchair wasn't fitted with a ROHO in the first place, it seems to me I've spent a lot of money over the years simply upgrading equipment, from toilet risers to bath chairs to the wheelchair cushion (and the original gel cushion wasn't cheap either).
The problem with being proactive and purchasing before problems develop is that it needs to be deemed medically necessary in order for government programs to subsidize the cost, have you checked that out 😲? I don't know how well the lower price ROHO cushions compare but I figure if they were sufficient to do the job they wouldn't make the pricey ones.

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score 0 · Answer 17

Thanks for asking this question. I just learned of ROHO cushions from reading another post a week or so ago. Had to google ROHO to see what the acronym meant. Anyway just wondering if anyone has ever purchased such a cushion as prevention for sores forming? My mother is over 200 lbs. and the memory foam cushion I have on her transport chair is very compressed from just occasional use. Most of the time she is mobile using a walker. But she just sprained her wrist (waiting for the swelling to go down and get a second X-ray to check for a hairline fracture) and is now using the memory foam cushion on a borrowed wheelchair. I could see that her bum was very red on a trip to the bathroom yesterday. And it made me wonder about the possibility of a sore developing. So this post couldn't have come at a better time.

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score 3 · Answer 18

Roho I is THE brand to use....We found the key to effective use is to inflate it only halfway at most so that the butt sinks into it without being "buoyed" up by it...Use just enough inflation to keep the butt off the bottom of the Roho device.

Grace + Peace,

Bob

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score 2 · Answer 19

For my mom, we have an electric recliner. It allows for easy change in position. We also put an alternating pressure mattress on the chair. It is the same one as she has on her bed. We just put it length wise over the back of her chair, across and down to the foot rest. I put a fitted sheet over it and that kind of holds it on. We also put a washable bed pad on the seat as she is incontinent. It also allows me to easily shift her position (rock) from one cheek to the other. That along with changing the position of the chair has kept my mom from getting any pressure ulcers. She will get slightly red if she sits in her wheel chair for more than half an hour, even with her nice ROHO cushion ;-(. We have to be very diligent.

Other things that help prevent bed sores.... Increase protein in diet....keep skin clean and dry....be sure to lubricate the skin with lotions or ointments.

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score 1 · Answer 20

Interesting...I had never heard of this before...but I am new to this...so I looked it up and you're right there are a ton of differences...but one thing I did read and I quote "It is recommended that a clinician such as a doctor or therapist specializing in seating and positioning should be consulted to determine if the Enhancer® is appropriate for the user’s particular seating needs" so they echo what everyone else is saying!!

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score 3 · Answer 21

The best thing to do for a pressure ulcer is to keep her off her bum temporarily, no cushion can take the place of that. You need to be aggressive in treating this... has a doctor or nurse seen the ulcer? Remember that the damage you see is only the tip of the iceberg, the majority is below the skin.

Definitely go through the proper channels to have her needs evaluated by an occupational therapist, it may be time to ditch the chair in favour of something else. When buying medically necessary equipment is almost always more cost effective to go through the proper channels, that way you are not wasting money on items that are not adequate to meet your needs.

I forgot to answer your question (lol). Mom's OT told us that ROHO is the top of the line and is always the go to when dealing with pressure relief.

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score 4 · Answer 22

Ask her doctor to script an in home evaluation by it and pt. Let them make a recommendation for the type of cushion.

It is durable medical equipment (dme) and Medicare should pick up part of the cost if the doctor writes a script for it.

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Help choosing the right ROHO cushion for armchair?

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