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We tried various cushions--egg crating, donut shaped, various other foam. We tried turning him at night. We even tried a ROHO cushion. Nothing was enough to resolve the problem and his skin continued to stay what the doctor called a "bad" purple color.
Then we got an ALTERNATING AIR cushion for his wheelchair and recliner. In a few weeks the (bad) purple on his behind turned to a much better color, and eventually back to his normal skin tone. That was three years ago. He's used the alternating air cushion ever since and his skin is still a normal color.
The alternating air cushion we got him is called the EASE cushion. It's sold by a company in Paradise, California. It's portable and we take it with us to doctor appts, restaurants etc.
For my dad, an alternating-air cushion was a lifesaver.
It is on wheels and reclines in two or three positions. My husband has one and we use the Roho cushion on the chair. He can sleep, sit up straight for meals (has a portable tray) or semi-recline. Again search out products on the internet.
I don't work for Wondergel, (but they should reward me by now for my persistent recommendations in the healthcare field....!) but in my longterm role as responsible party for my disabled brother, I learned to experiment over time, and keep trying, until I found products that could work and yet withstand his large size and difficulties with mobility and planning, as well as years of work in elder care.
Consider how much you anticipate the person will sit in the wheelchair. If they will be in the chair all day, you should buy the best one you can afford.
As others have said, incontinence can be an issue. My Dad's cushion wasn't waterproof (water resistant) and sure enough, it began to smell after repeated accidents with leaky Depends. I guess some urine got in the foam, probably seeped in through the zipper. Yuk.
Wondergel has several products, some thicker, some less, made with a gel that has flexibility, and filled with air pockets throughout.
No matter what product, it's good to change them a couple of times during the day - same effect as making sure you turn a body in bed, when the person cannot turn themselves. Changing the seat pad shifts pressure points.
And one thing to watch with the Wondergel products is the edges - the ones with very square edges, can create a ridge that irritates at that point, where others have more rounded edges, but those ones (the thicker pads) are in covers, and not as gently soft. Use several products, including wondergel, and rotate them, watching with each change, to guard against any one spot of pressure, like an edge - or even bunched sheet - over time, any bumps can add a pressure spot.
Cushions made with memory foam are effective because the foam is dense and returns to its original shape when no one is sitting on it. You actually can order plain memory foam cushions online and then make your own cover if you can sew. As the poster above said, be sure to purchase one that is appropriate for your mother's wheelchair.
To take pressure of coccyx area.