Welcome to the forum. I remember the mattress issues. Can be a tough problem.
There is usually a provider name on hospice equipment. Usually a sticker. Look that name up online and see if you can find information online on what that company provides. They will have to get the order for any change through the hospice company but it might help to talk to the provider first to find out what the options are. You can search on line for hospice bed options as well. If the hospice company didn’t order the airflow one to come as an accessory, you will need to request it. It’s best to get one before bedsores develop.
The person ordering doesn’t always get given all the components to order. You have to know what You need and ask for it. It’s their job to provide it (if they can). New employees etc. everyone has a reason why something doesn’t happen but usually the medical equipment company will make it happen when they get the order.
My mom had a hospital bed through Medicare. She wasn’t on hospice. The local medical equipment company we called first delivered one that had some issues. I called a different medical supply company and we got a provider who gave us more choices. My mom didn’t like the mattress. I bought an egg crate topper. She didn’t like it either. I bought a jell topper. It also had issues for her. We ask for a different mattress and they exchanged it. No problem doing so. Even though mom didn’t think the mattress was all that great she finally adjusted to it. She was not bed bound.
My DH aunt had one through hospice and she loved it. When she became totally bed bound we put one of the air toppers on it. She liked that as well. When she went to rehab and then in the NH the mattresses were larger and look more comfortable. The ones medicare/hospice provide are not as nice as the facility ones. With hospice, if the hospice staff remembers to order all the useful items, they usually deliver/trade them out immediately. But they don’t all use the same companies. If you talk to different hospice companies they might have different beds/mattresses available. My cousin had a hospice company provider who supplied little narrow beds. Both her parents were on hospice and she had them in the same room so they worked out. I would have sent them back immediately if I had seen them coming in the door but I think she liked how easy she could move them around.
A little about facility hospice. Usually Medicare only pays for this at the very end of anticipated life. The last few days, maybe up to a couple of weeks out. if you have one in your area, you can call and discuss. They are great as you sometimes have a nice large sitting area with room for family to gather and ability for family caregiver to nap. Plus the staff is usually really great. You don’t have to arrange for the beds etc. Everything is there. If your home hospice, ALF or NH isn’t affiliated with one of these, they are probably not going to suggest it and even if they did, that might not be your choice. I’ve had three LO pass away from a facility hospice. Death was imminent. I thought they were great.
I see your GM has cancer so she may be on hospice awhile. it depends on how advanced the cancer is. The hospice companies are paid well. You can change companies whenever you feel you aren’t getting the care, supplies, etc you need. It is your GMs benefits that are footing the bill. Sometimes we are so grateful for the help that we forget that we are the consumer, they are the provider. When my LO hospice sees that I’m having a problem, they step it up. It’s a relationship that truly needs to work for the patient and the care team.
One last thought. If your GM is in pain as is often the case with cancer, the problem may not be the mattress. Hopefully she is being kept comfortable.
The best way to get one is to ask for one. You have not because you ask not. Hospice will supply a mattress topper if the hospital bed mattress isn't comfortable for your grandma.
I would think she was given a Hospital Bed when Hospice got involved. Usually with Hospital beds they come with a standard foam mattress with a plastic cover. Maybe they could supply a bed topper. If not, you can buy one.
Grandma1954 8/6/23 Talk to the hospice Nurse and ask for a different mattress. Now, most of the mattresses are going to be somewhat firm because it is easier to change bedding and many of the mattresses are designed to have an "air flow". There are some that are tubes that inflate and deflate so the mattress is in constant motion. These types are great for anyone that is spending most of their time in bed. Now I have to ask...is you asking for a softer mattress or is it grandma that is asking for a softer mattress. What you think is a firm mattress might be comfortable for grandma. In any case talk to the Hospice Nurse they are the ones that can ask for an equipment change.
Is grandma on hospice? Wouldn’t a hospital bed be the best thing for her? You say in your profile that she has cancer.
Tell us a bit more about your grandmother please. Does she have bedsores? Then, the rotating air mattresses are best for her. Why isn’t she in a facility instead of independent living?
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Welcome to the forum.
I remember the mattress issues. Can be a tough problem.
There is usually a provider name on hospice equipment. Usually a sticker. Look that name up online and see if you can find information online on what that company provides. They will have to get the order for any change through the hospice company but it might help to talk to the provider first to find out what the options are. You can search on line for hospice bed options as well. If the hospice company didn’t order the airflow one to come as an accessory, you will need to request it. It’s best to get one before bedsores develop.
The person ordering doesn’t always get given all the components to order. You have to know what You need and ask for it. It’s their job to provide it (if they can). New employees etc. everyone has a reason why something doesn’t happen but usually the medical equipment company will make it happen when they get the order.
My mom had a hospital bed through Medicare. She wasn’t on hospice. The local medical equipment company we called first delivered one that had some issues. I called a different medical supply company and we got a provider who gave us more choices. My mom didn’t like the mattress. I bought an egg crate topper. She didn’t like it either. I bought a jell topper. It also had issues for her. We ask for a different mattress and they exchanged it. No problem doing so. Even though mom didn’t think the mattress was all that great she finally adjusted to it. She was not bed bound.
My DH aunt had one through hospice and she loved it. When she became totally bed bound we put one of the air toppers on it. She liked that as well. When she went to rehab and then in the NH the mattresses were larger and look more comfortable. The ones medicare/hospice provide are not as nice as the facility ones. With hospice, if the hospice staff remembers to order all the useful items, they usually deliver/trade them out immediately. But they don’t all use the same companies. If you talk to different hospice companies they might have different beds/mattresses available. My cousin had a hospice company provider who supplied little narrow beds. Both her parents were on hospice and she had them in the same room so they worked out. I would have sent them back immediately if I had seen them coming in the door but I think she liked how easy she could move them around.
A little about facility hospice. Usually Medicare only pays for this at the very end of anticipated life. The last few days, maybe up to a couple of weeks out. if you have one in your area, you can call and discuss. They are great as you sometimes have a nice large sitting area with room for family to gather and ability for family caregiver to nap. Plus the staff is usually really great. You don’t have to arrange for the beds etc. Everything is there. If your home hospice, ALF or NH isn’t affiliated with one of these, they are probably not going to suggest it and even if they did, that might not be your choice. I’ve had three LO pass away from a facility hospice. Death was imminent. I thought they were great.
I see your GM has cancer so she may be on hospice awhile. it depends on how advanced the cancer is. The hospice companies are paid well. You can change companies whenever you feel you aren’t getting the care, supplies, etc you need. It is your GMs benefits that are footing the bill. Sometimes we are so grateful for the help that we forget that we are the consumer, they are the provider. When my LO hospice sees that I’m having a problem, they step it up. It’s a relationship that truly needs to work for the patient and the care team.
One last thought. If your GM is in pain as is often the case with cancer, the problem may not be the mattress. Hopefully she is being kept comfortable.
Hospice will supply a mattress topper if the hospital bed mattress isn't comfortable for your grandma.
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Talk to the hospice Nurse and ask for a different mattress.
Now, most of the mattresses are going to be somewhat firm because it is easier to change bedding and many of the mattresses are designed to have an "air flow". There are some that are tubes that inflate and deflate so the mattress is in constant motion. These types are great for anyone that is spending most of their time in bed.
Now I have to ask...is you asking for a softer mattress or is it grandma that is asking for a softer mattress. What you think is a firm mattress might be comfortable for grandma. In any case talk to the Hospice Nurse they are the ones that can ask for an equipment change.
Tell us a bit more about your grandmother please. Does she have bedsores? Then, the rotating air mattresses are best for her. Why isn’t she in a facility instead of independent living?