Bed Cushions for he Bedridden: An Inexpensive Craft

When someone is bedridden it is extremely hard on the skin that they're sitting and laying on. Many regular mattresses are too hard and cause too much pressure to the buttocks for someone who has to be in the bed most of the time to be comfortable. If this is not changed, their skin will start to break down and they will get bed sores.

More than likely, it is their tail-bone that takes the worst pressure for someone who is bedridden because there usually is not alot of meat and fat on their buttocks to cushion them properly. They are not up walking around, so muscle and fat are not having to chance to build up in this area, therefore causing the breakdown of their tissue. The effect of this is pain from the pressure of the mattress pressing on their tail-bone.

It is bad enough that there is no air or ventilation underneath them which may cause sweat to form under them. You must take extra measures to keep them dry and turned when they are in the bed. If you do have a regular mattress instead of an air mattress or hospital bed then there are ways you can help relieve the pressure on their tail-bone. Plus, let's be honest, if you have no insurance or if you have a co-pay, hospital beds are out of the question because they can get really expensive.

Making a bed cushion for someone who is bedridden is a good way to relieve some of the pressure on their tail-bone and spine. Here is a simple and cheap way to make one of these cushions.

What you will need:
- an old adult shirt (not button up as the buttons will press into the skin)
- needle and thread OR sewing machine with thread
- stuffing for cushion (you can use another pillow's stuffing, or they sell it in plastic bags in the craft section of your store)

Step 1 - Lay the shirt, inside-out, flat in front of you. Then cut in a straight line from armpit to armpit. Now you have a big square...simple as that.

Step 2 - Leave the shirt square inside-out and sew straight down one open side, with either the needle and thread or your sewing machine, effectively closing off one end. Next, only sew half-way up the other side leaving an open hole. Now turn the shirt right-side out.

Step 3 - Finally, put your stuffing into the open hole that you left and spread it out into the cushion. Don't stuff it too tight, just make it fluffy. If it is stuffed too tightly it will push the person up awkwardly while their sitting on it and cause pain. You want their body to settle into it, not be pushed up by it. Now turn the edges of the fabric under where you left the hole, lay them together and sew it closed.

There you go...a nice, inexpensive bed cushion that will help relieve some of the pressure of what can be a painful situation. With extra care and attention to these things that some people look over or maybe haven't thought of, you can make the life of someone who needs to stay in their bed most of, or all of the time, alot less painful.

These bed cushions also make wonderful fluffy comfy cushions for anything..to place under someone's head, arms, legs, or in the seat of a wheelchair on top of the regular seat cushion...anywhere to relieve pressure. I hope you find this article helpful and remember that there are many inexpensive ways to have things that you need or are necessary without paying expensive medical prices.