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Mom is developing bad pressure sores on her bottom. We have tried everything: various zinc oxide creams, gabapentin, seen dermatologist and gastroenterologist. All doctors say to move more, get up and walk often, sleep on her side. Mom is 108 yrs old, and mobility is becoming an issue. Just gathering the energy to get out of her chair is hard, and she can only stand or walk for short times...minutes. Sleeping on her side is difficult, as it puts pressure on her old hip replacement, causing discomfort. She is in constant pain (primary doc terms it "chronic idiopathic anal pain", and admits there is no cure. Has anyone used a Roho cushion for this? It was recommended by one doc, but they are pretty expensive, about $400. Any suggestions?

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Dear Sister45,

Good of you to care for your 108 year old mom. I know its hard to find a good solutions sometimes. I know the pillow is expensive, but I would give it a try.

I hope others can add more.
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My Mom has a Alternating Pressure Pump and Pad on her hospital bed and I think its what has helped her not develop any bed sores. We also use calmoseptine ointment. Both available on amazon. Good luck!
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108! Wow, what a trooper!

Can you put a thin but firm pillow, or foam cushion under her when she sleeps on her side? Nurses also doubled up pillows and put them between Dad's knees, as he was skin and bones toward the end. I noticed they used doubled up pillows quite frequently to help support his body and provide protection against other body parts or the alternating pressure pad on the bed.
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Try your local hospital to see if they have a wound care center. Alternatively, there is a nursing specialty that includes wound care. The website, wocn.org allows you to find a qualified nursing professional by zip code. These professionals have a great deal of experience and expertise.
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108... God bless !!!! I tried a basic roho mosaic cushion to start. ( approx $70 amazon) So far we've had healing ... down to a little redness we are watching. Since the Roho we haven't had any further skin breakdown...
 
We definitely also use the clameseptine with every depends change like others said. 

Mom's nurse (visits once a week to monitor the progress) makes the point about extra protein but the 3 bites of tuna or scrambled egg is not enough to make a difference .

I suggest trying the roho ... it's inflatable insert let's you choose how much give it has ( came with a hand pump) Mom was using a gel cushion when increased immobility lead too both buttocks having open sores. We did buy the less expensive Roho Mosaic and I figured if it wasn't enough I would exchange for the more $$$$ model.

Just my 2¢...Good luck !!!
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Kelp is a great healer for sores.
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I agree you need to see a wound care specialist . When i worked at nursing homes thats what we did . We had ones we called in . They were great and knew there business. However wound care in the elderly is a long rough business. Your going to have to keep turning her at least every 2 hours and use a bolster or wedge to keep her in position if necessary . If your need to push protein . My Mom loves boost and is about the only liquid she will finish a cup of . We mix it with ice cream sometimes too . Sometimes a little peanut butter works too. Talk to your wound care people or Doctors about a cooling pad or ice. I know it sounds simplistic . It works though. As a nursing home nurse you cant even give an asprin w/o an order and although usually those are standard orders for pain or fever . Sometimes things slip thru the cracks . Sometimes all we could do was a tied glove filled w/ ice ot alieviate pain til the doc called in and we got the med.
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Thanks so much everyone for your input. My sister and I have tried all that you recommended...except for the Roho cushion, which is why I asked specifically about that. Mom is not wheelchair- or bed-bound. She also is very controlling and will not follow doctor's instructions or our suggestions unless she wants to. We have the Calmoseptine cream, Beaudreaux's Butt Paste, Magic Butt Paste, but Mom prefers to use Vasoline because it's "a good old fashioned remedy." I think she actually enjoys complaining and playing the martyr. However, her pain and sores are real and if we can find a passive solution, where all she has to do is sit, not apply some cream, try to get into an unusual position or get up every hour, we would pay the price. We just want to know if the Roho really works.
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My father had a pressure sore on his bottom. He went to the Wound Center and ended up with a Roho cushion and a prescription alternating air pressure mattress on his hospital bed. Even with all that he ended up with a wound vac and it took four months to heal. The Roho cushion was great but than he is wheelchair bound and only able to stand for transfers. Wound care center was great and best way to go if possible.
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Wound care nurses recieve special training so should know all the latest tricks.
When she is out of bed does she sit in a wheelchair? A recliner if she would accept it is a better choice with her legs up. Do you have a hospital bed? She does nt have to lie completely on her side just enough to take the pressure off and plenty of pillows for support like FF said.
At 108 she is on her final journey however long that takes so there is no recovery. Of course a high protein diet is a good idea but anything will help that she likes and can swallow. She has earned the right to do as she pleases and there is no changing her now. Just do all you can to relieve the pain. Now I have to look up Roho cushions as i haven't met that one
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My dad's Roho cushion almost immediately cleared up the pressure sore he had developed soon after coming home from spinal cord injury rehab. His OT person suggested it after looking at a photo of the sore, observing my dad in his chair, and ascertaining what else we were doing (besides his alternating air pressure mattress we were turning him every 2 hours at night, bolstering him like crazy, doing regular weight shifts in his chair during the day, eating lots of protein, etc...). I think his insurance mostly covered it but if it hadn't Dad would have just paid and it would have been totally worth it. He hasn't had any iffy areas on his backside since that time (approximately late 2016).

I hope you can find a solution for your mom.
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What helped my DH is Colloidal Silver Gel and I purchased Silver Miracles and it proved to be a blessing.
$14.99 for a 4 oz jar. A little goes a long way. I always followed this with a barrier cream and the one my DH seemed to prefer was Selan Silver, both available at Amazon.

I tried everything with DH's first pressure sore and the Colloidal Silver Gel was the first and only thing to actually start it healing. I don't know how to explain the need for the Barrier Cream but I used it faithfully and he never got another pressure sore. As soon as DH would say his bum was burning, this is what I did, starting with using diaper wipes to make sure there was no 'incontinence' caused by expelling gas.

This past year, when I had to clean him, I used the Selan Silver faithfully, following every single cleaning.

I also purchased the Beautyrest 3" Convoluted Foam Topper for the couch and his lift-chair.  He said it made him a lot more comfortable.  I later transferred it to his Hospital Bed when he was put on Hospice. I bought mine at Walmart, around $30 and easy to cut to size.

Bless you - 108? I only wish my DH had lasted that long - he passed 2 weeks ago, 4 months shy of 97.
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All the advice here is good. I recommend the Roho cushion and the use of colloidal silver and creams. My Mom had a stage IV sore by her tailbone she got in a 5 star Medicare rated nursing home by her tailbone when she was in for rehab. It never fully healed but I got it to improve by 50% by the use of all of these things and protein in the diet. Peanut butter on toast in the morning helped with protein intake.
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Talk to your doctor. Tell him you need a hospital bed and inflatable mattress inflatable mattress and Home Health and Hospice. The alternating inflating mattress can be gotten thru your doctor prescribing it and Home Health And Hospice should be called to come help you with your mom a couple times a week. They can give you pointers on how to take care of the sores. Petroleum jelly washes off too easily. Diaper cream is best because it is hard to come off. I suggest Boudreaux Butt Cream or just zinc oxide which will help with healing. Good diet, pillows alternating under her helps as others have said.
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Ebay has used Roho Cushions for a fraction of the new price. Perhaps try there.
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Thank you on behalf of humanity on this earth that you are taking care of your beloved mother. Ok. Get a Roho mattress and seat cushion. If you have a primary care physician he/she can justify both. Before or after, I suggest you take mother to a Wound Care Specialist, usually they are staff in Wound Care Clinics that are adjunct to Hospitals around where you reside.
Hope it works, God Bless!!
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Alternating pressure air bed, and two hourly checks and repositioning. I just can't imagine what else would be effective enough to protect this wonderful lady's fragile skin. I hope you'll be able to make her more comfortable.
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Medicare paid for my husband’s Roho cushion.
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You do not indicate if  mom is incontintent. If so, you need to cover the area with zinc cream. Any wetness will break down the skin. Also, getting up is difficult, have you considered a u-get-up lift to help her stand for awhile and relieve the pressure. Also, gel bed mattress and chair pads might help. Sometimes, it's trial and error to find what really works for each person.
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If you are in the States, your Mom's Medicare benefits allow for a home care nurse to come and assess/monitor the "wounds". Her doctor would have to order a home health agency.
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Does you mom have Medicare or other insurance. Call Them for a Nurse Visit and then Insist on having a Wound Care Provider Visit the home for an assessment. My mom had similar issues with bedsores and I have someone out 2 to 3 times a week (my mom has medicare) They also bring all the supplies and order any prescriptions needed
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I use a coccyx cushion fir the wheelchair and position my mom in the bed and tuck a pillow behind her back to keep her slightly on her side. Organic tea tree oil works wonders for sores. All it takes is a little to be applied twice a day.
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Hi all. My mom has had numerous pressure ulcers in the last two years, some considered Stage 4 (meaning they are down to, or near, the bone). She goes to the Wound Care Clinic at our local hospital once a month. The Wound Clinic had told us to get a ROHO Cushion and the air mattress as mentioned above. Both have helped tremendously. What I think has helped the most, however, is the very high protein drink the AL attendants give her six times a day. It is called Liquacel. She is only required to drink one ounce each time, and it comes in flavors (her favorite is peach-mango). It is costly (approximately $30 a bottle of 30 oz.), but it is well worth it. It does not have to be taken six times a day; you can start out at two and see how it goes. It has 16g of protein per ounce. Along with the Wound Clinic and the Wound Vac, this stuff has been a Godsend. You can purchase it from Amazon or at your local Target. Just a little FYI. Have a great day all, and God bless.
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Have you asked her primary care physician?
Air mattress was recommended to my client.
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My mom has a cushion with 'fingers' of air filled pockets that helps her a lot - I feel it is much better than a regular cushion

For wounds in diaper area I would use what I did for my kids - a Rx hemorrhoid cream [ I use proctosedyl ] with a silicone barrier cream on top which prevents the urine from bothering the skin - I have witnessed it clear mild diaper rash in just 1 diaper change - our family had been using this for nearly 40 years & we swear by it
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Medicare paid for our mother's Alternating Pressure Pump and Pad on the hospital bed we had for her at home. We also bought wedge pillows (normally used for GERD). This really helped us keep her on her side. A small pillow under her knees helped too.
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You are taking such good care of your mom. I think what you are doing is wonderful!
OK. The answers here have been great. I just want to add a couple of things I didn't see in the previous answers. FRESH AIR: The healing power of air is often overlooked in wound care. First, the wound needs to be clean and as dry as possible. Then, just let air do its healing work. It can be inside her bedroom. Maybe this can be your mom's time to talk about whatever she wants. The longer the air has a chance to work the better. MATTRESS: Hospital beds, even with special pads, are unbelievably uncomfortable. I recommend buying her a Tempurpedic mattress, one of the simple ones (without a pillow top). This mattress will help her sleep more easily on her side as the memory foam mattress will help cradle her hip. I know these are expensive. Maybe the manufacturer will give you a deal if you explain why it's needed. CALMOSEPTINE: You said you were already using this. It's the wonder ointment! But, sometimes, it's hard to remove it completely. I use (and check with her wound care specialists on this) baby oil to take it off easily. Then, after the "airing out" period, I really lather the Calmo on.
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Is it possible to get her a used roho pillow? I'm sure there are many about. Perhaps it can be cleaned, or a sheet or something could be put over it. Does it have to be new?
In the nursing home they turn residents every 2 hrs and use several pillows to keep them there and comfortable.
I'd get a wound ream on it so it doesn't get worse. They have to be watched like a hawk so it doesn't worsen. Good luck.
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My mother, who just passed at 93, had an air pressure mattress that kept movement on her bottom. She could not sleep on her side any longer. I would call in wound specialist and you will get the best advice from them. They have dealt with everything and were a great help to us. I am sure you want to keep her as comfortable as possible. God bless both of you! 108 is an amazing number of birthdays! I hope to be as fortunate! Good she has you!
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My dad uses a Roho cushion. It was paid through Hospice, which I assumed was covered by Medicare. Orally, one of the best healing solutions is to increase the protein in the diet.
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