Optimise Firm Edge Mattress
- Reinforced Firm Side Edges - the key differentiator of the Optimise Firm Edge Mattress is its reinforced firm side edges; most pressure-reducing foam mattresses have soft, unstable side edges that compress and tilt when the resident sits on the side of the bed, creating a fall risk during transfers; firm edges provide a stable, level platform for seated transfers to wheelchairs, standing frames, and commode chairs, directly reducing fall risk at the bed edge per NICE NG45.
- Restraint-Free Fall Prevention - the firm edge design prevents unintentional roll-out from the sleeping surface and provides a stable transfer platform without requiring physical bed rails or other restraint devices; this supports the Mental Capacity Act 2005 least restrictive intervention principle and CQC Regulation 10 dignity by achieving fall prevention through a mattress feature rather than a restraint measure.
- Profiled Pressure-Reducing Foam Surface - the profiled foam sleeping surface provides pressure redistribution across the lying surface per NICE CG179, combining the fall prevention function of the firm edges with pressure ulcer prevention; 198x88x15cm; four-way turn design extends mattress lifespan; suitable for profiling beds in care homes, community hospitals, and homecare.
- Independence and Mobility Support - the stable firm edges provide residents with sensory feedback about the bed edge position, allowing more confident independent repositioning and bed edge sitting; this promotes safe mobility and independence, consistent with CQC Regulation 10 (independence and dignity) and NICE NG45 recommendations to support safe mobility rather than restrict it.
Optimise Firm Edge Mattress - Firm Sides - Safe Transfer and Fall Prevention
The Optimise Firm Edge Mattress (198x88x15cm, NCL-OPFE) uses reinforced firm side edges to provide a stable transfer platform and prevent unintentional roll-out, reducing fall risk at the bed edge without bed rails or other restraint measures. Profiled pressure-reducing foam surface for pressure redistribution; 4-way turn. A restraint-free approach to bed edge safety per NICE NG45 and MCA 2005.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Reference | NCL-OPFE |
| Dimensions | 198 x 88 x 15 cm |
| Key Feature | Reinforced firm side edges |
| Sleeping Surface | Profiled pressure-reducing foam |
| Turn Configuration | 4-way turn |
| Settings | Care homes; community hospitals; homecare |
Regulatory Compliance
NICE NG45 (falls in older people: assessing risk and prevention) recommends addressing fall risk at the bed edge during transfers, and specifically supports less restrictive approaches to bed safety; firm edge mattresses address the bed-edge transfer fall risk through a mattress feature rather than a restraint measure, consistent with the NICE NG45 recommendation to consider alternatives to bed rails. NICE CG179 supports the profiled pressure-reducing foam sleeping surface for pressure ulcer prevention. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 supports the less restrictive specification where fall prevention can be achieved without bed rail use. CQC Regulation 12 (safe care) and CQC Regulation 10 (dignity and independence) are both directly supported by this mattress specification.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do firm edge mattresses prevent falls without restraint?
Standard pressure-reducing foam mattresses have soft side edges that compress easily under the resident's weight when they sit on the bed edge, causing the edge to dip and the resident to lose balance during the transfer movement. The Optimise Firm Edge Mattress uses reinforced foam side sections that maintain their shape under the resident's seated weight, providing a level, stable platform for the transfer. The resident can sit on the bed edge with confidence, push up to standing, and transfer to a chair or wheelchair without the instability of a soft-edged mattress. This addresses the biomechanical cause of bed edge transfer falls without restricting the resident's movement or using bed rails.
How does the firm edge affect pressure care compatibility?
The firm edges are reinforced sections at the sides of the mattress, not across the lying surface; the central sleeping area uses profiled pressure-reducing foam that provides pressure redistribution for residents in the lying position. The firm edge does not affect the pressure redistributing properties of the lying surface. The tissue viability nurse should assess whether the pressure reducing specification of the Optimise Firm Edge sleeping surface is appropriate for the individual resident's tissue viability risk level, using the Waterlow or other validated risk assessment tool, before specifying as part of the pressure care plan.
NCL-OPFE
Viewed products
- Reinforced Firm Side Edges - the key differentiator of the Optimise Firm Edge Mattress is its reinforced firm side edges; most pressure-reducing foam mattresses have soft, unstable side edges that compress and tilt when the resident sits on the side of the bed, creating a fall risk during transfers; firm edges provide a stable, level platform for seated transfers to wheelchairs, standing frames, and commode chairs, directly reducing fall risk at the bed edge per NICE NG45.
- Restraint-Free Fall Prevention - the firm edge design prevents unintentional roll-out from the sleeping surface and provides a stable transfer platform without requiring physical bed rails or other restraint devices; this supports the Mental Capacity Act 2005 least restrictive intervention principle and CQC Regulation 10 dignity by achieving fall prevention through a mattress feature rather than a restraint measure.
- Profiled Pressure-Reducing Foam Surface - the profiled foam sleeping surface provides pressure redistribution across the lying surface per NICE CG179, combining the fall prevention function of the firm edges with pressure ulcer prevention; 198x88x15cm; four-way turn design extends mattress lifespan; suitable for profiling beds in care homes, community hospitals, and homecare.
- Independence and Mobility Support - the stable firm edges provide residents with sensory feedback about the bed edge position, allowing more confident independent repositioning and bed edge sitting; this promotes safe mobility and independence, consistent with CQC Regulation 10 (independence and dignity) and NICE NG45 recommendations to support safe mobility rather than restrict it.