Pressure Relief and Pressure Injury Prevention Products for Skilled Nursing, DME, and Home Care Providers
Geriatric Medical supplies pressure relief and pressure injury prevention products in wholesale volumes to skilled nursing facilities, long-term care communities, DME/HME providers, and home care agencies nationwide. Our catalog includes wheelchair and seat cushions, heel and elbow protectors, and skin pressure protection products, so your team can source the positioning and offloading products that support your skin integrity program from one distributor.
Whether you're equipping residents identified as high risk, supporting a wound care plan, or supplying patients at home, our team can help you match pressure relief products to your residents' risk levels, mobility, and order volume.
Pressure Relief Questions from Providers
What pressure relief products does Geriatric Medical carry?
We carry wheelchair and seat cushions, heel and elbow cushions and protectors, and skin pressure protection products. For residents who spend most of their time in bed, we also carry pressure redistribution and alternating pressure mattresses in our durable medical equipment category.
Where do pressure injuries most commonly develop?
Pressure injuries, also called pressure ulcers or bedsores, most often develop over bony areas where the body rests against a surface for long periods. The most common sites are the sacrum and tailbone, heels, hips, buttocks, and elbows, along with the back of the head and shoulder blades for residents who spend most of their time lying down. Pressure, shear, friction, and moisture all increase risk, which is why prevention combines repositioning, support surfaces, offloading devices, and skin care.
What's the difference between pressure redistribution and pressure offloading?
Pressure redistribution spreads a person's weight over a larger surface area so no single point bears too much pressure, which is how most foam, gel, and air cushions and mattresses work. Pressure offloading, sometimes called pressure relief, removes pressure from a specific area entirely, such as a heel boot that suspends the heel off the mattress. Many care plans use both, with redistribution surfaces for general support and offloading devices for high-risk areas.
Why are heels so vulnerable to pressure injuries?
Heels have very little padding between the skin and bone, and they bear concentrated pressure whenever a resident lies on their back, even on a pressure redistribution mattress. That makes heels one of the most common sites for pressure injuries. Heel protectors and offloading boots are designed to float the heel so it doesn't rest on the mattress. Products should fit properly and be checked regularly so straps and edges don't create new pressure points.
What types of wheelchair cushions are available?
Wheelchair cushions are generally made from foam, gel, air cells, or a combination of materials. Foam cushions are lightweight and economical for residents at lower risk. Gel cushions add pressure redistribution and help reduce shear. Air cell cushions adjust to the user's shape and offer a high level of pressure redistribution for residents at higher risk or with existing pressure injuries. Positioning cushions add contours or supports to help residents sit upright and stay aligned in the chair.
How do we choose the right wheelchair cushion for a resident?
Cushion selection should consider the resident's pressure injury risk, how many hours a day they sit, their posture and positioning needs, their weight, and whether incontinence is a factor. The cushion must also match the wheelchair's seat width and depth to work correctly. A fluid-resistant, removable cover makes cleaning easier. For residents at higher risk or with complex seating needs, cushion selection is often guided by a therapist's seating assessment.
Are donut or ring cushions recommended for pressure injury prevention?
No. Ring and donut-shaped cushions are generally not recommended for pressure injury prevention because they can concentrate pressure on the surrounding tissue and reduce blood flow to the area in the center. A cushion designed for pressure redistribution across the entire seating surface is typically a better choice.
Do elbow protectors help prevent pressure injuries?
Elbow protectors cushion the elbow and help reduce pressure and friction for residents who rest on their elbows in bed, use them to reposition, or rub them against bed rails and chair arms. They also help protect fragile skin from bumps and skin tears. Like heel protectors, they should fit comfortably without being too tight and be removed regularly so staff can check the skin underneath.
Can pressure relief products replace repositioning?
No. Pressure relief cushions, protectors, and support surfaces reduce pressure, but they don't replace regular repositioning, skin inspections, moisture management, and good nutrition. Residents who can't reposition themselves still need to be turned and repositioned according to their care plan. Positioning wedges and pillows can help staff hold residents in a side-lying position after turning.
Can we order pressure relief products through EDI or a punchout catalog?
Yes. Geriatric Medical supports EDI ordering and punchout catalog integration for accounts that manage purchasing through their own procurement, EHR, or ERP systems, so pressure relief products can be ordered the same way as the rest of your catalog without manual re-entry.