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Is this common with old age, or does it mean something may be wrong with her tailbone? She is skinny, if that has anything to do with it. Just trying to figure out if this requires a doctor visit.

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If she doesn't have a bedsore or other skin issues, try a foam cushion, folded blankets, something soft for her to sit on.

Also try to encourage her to stand periodically if she can, or roll from side to side to alleviate constant pressure in one area.

If she were to get a hospital bed, she could get an alternating pressure mattress which once plugged in rotates pressure on sections of a mattress to help prevent soreness and bed sores.

There are also big heavy gel pads that are used in wheelchairs, but we haven't found them to be that comfortable.

In the wintertime, get some thick pile fabric (like "polar fleece") from Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts or other store. You can either just fold it over or wrap it over a foam cushion. The thick pile fabric is soft and can act as an intermediary fabric between your mother's body and a thick foam cushion.

And check her skin periodically. My father is very very thin and gets sore, so he's never comfortable in any chair that isn't thickly padded.
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She may be developing a bedsore. See the MD without delay.
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As we get older arthritics tends sets in, and the thinner the person probably more difficulty in sitting for any length of time. I know my Mom, who is very thin, sits in a variety of different chairs of different softness, and is able to get up at least once every half hour to walk around.
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You can check her butt area the next time you clean her. You can tell if she's beginning to get a sore by her skin. If a patch of her skin looks lighter than the rest of her skin, that's the sign. To me, when I see it on my dad, it looks as if that skin was constantly rubbing off from something. When I was wipe him down, and he flinches, I take note of the area. Usually it looks Normal like the surrounding skin. But a week later, the outer skin has become lighter. He still refuses to change sitting position, and now that skin has a pimple which gets bigger. Then one day, it's an open sore. With dad, blood comes out. The best thing to do is Prevention. How? Change them often (or wash them), put lotion or A&D cream on it and change sitting positions. FYI, when I was googling exercises on a plane, I remembered also seeing exercising for wheelchair patients. If your mom doesn't care to stand/walk, maybe this is an option?
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cvs has a pretty good foam chair cushion . if roids are an issue you can tear a fistful of foam out of the center of the pad for relief in this area . the ones ive used were cloth covered , black in color and 23 bucks .
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You can get donut shaped foam cushions but they are out of favor these days. moving position helps a lot . keep clean and dry. Hospital bed or recliner allow change of position. Encourage getting up and walking or just moving the legs to keep circulation going. If all else fails put her favorite snacks in different areas so she has to get up and move everytime she wants one. You may learn some new swear words from her native land but her butt wont hurt
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Once the bedsores are "really bad" you have a life-threatening situation on your hands. Check her butt. Now. Tell her either you check it or she goes to the ER. Be Nurse Ratchet.
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You can get special cushions for this like a pile cushion ive seen them in the elderly shops its stops her putting pressure on her tail bone!
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During the life history of a bedsore a stage of numbness sets in so as pam says when it really hurts rather than feels uncomfortable as now it will be very very bad. plus you don't know how well she is bathing. tell her you need to shck her for unusual moles on her back or some excuse. Respect her dignaty and don't just strip her off uncover a little bit at a time. Even if she is not very modest us old people don't like others seeing our wrinkled skin hanging in folds. I certainly could put a few tucks in mine. Like one of the onelookers said when the bishop's wife ran through the ball room naked."Don't know what she was wearing but it sure needed ironing!!!!!
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i think a recliner helps because when reclined , most of the body weight is shifted to the spine and back , giving the assbone a break .. as body mass is lost in declining elders , most are in danger of developing pressure ulcers from chair or too much time in bed . it isnt always the result of neglect . its just likely to happen in an elders last months or weeks ..
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