Bed Mechanics, Mattress Selection & Mobility

Integrating Bed and Mattress Prescription to Optimise Positioning, Pressure Care and Independence Session Goal This practical CPD event explores how adjustable beds and support surfaces work together to optimise positioning, pressure management, mobility and functional independence. Attendees will revisit the fundamentals of bed and mattress assessment and learn how to apply clinical reasoning to prescribe the right combination of bed features and support surfaces based on individual client needs. Through clinical discussion and hands-on demonstrations, the session will demonstrate how bed mechanics and mattress selection can improve comfort, support bed mobility, facilitate safer transfers and reduce manual handling risk across community, aged care and rehabilitation settings. What You’ll Learn • The fundamentals of bed and mattress assessment and prescription • How bed mechanics influence posture, pressure redistribution, mobility and transfers • Clinical considerations for selecting adjustable beds and support surfaces based on functional goals and pressure risk • The relationship between bed positioning, mattress performance, comfort and independence • How different support surface technologies influence immersion, envelopment, pressure redistribution and client mobility • Practical strategies to optimise bed setup for sleeping, repositioning, sitting and transfers • How bed and mattress selection can reduce manual handling demands and improve caregiver safety • Integrating beds, mattresses, hoists and other assistive technology to support holistic care Why This Event Matters Everyone has the right to feel comfortable and supported in their sleep. The right combination of beds and mattresses can significantly improve comfort, pressure management, mobility and participation, while also reducing the physical demands placed on caregivers. Selecting an appropriate sleep system requires clinicians to consider posture, mobility, pressure injury risk, respiratory function, transfer ability, care needs and the home environment. Understanding how bed mechanics and support surface technologies interact allows clinicians to make informed decisions that improve both clinical outcomes and everyday function. This interactive CPD event revisits the principles of bed and mattress assessment before demonstrating how adjustable bed features and support surface selection can be applied in practice. Rather than focusing solely on equipment features, the session builds confidence in clinical assessment and prescription using practical, real-world scenarios. Learning Outcomes By the end of this session, attendees will be able to: • Apply a structured assessment to guide integrated bed and mattress prescription. • Explain how bed mechanics and support surface selection influence posture, pressure management, mobility and independence. • Select appropriate support surfaces based on pressure injury risk, mobility and functional goals. • Configure adjustable bed features to optimise positioning, comfort, bed mobility and transfers. • Integrate beds, mattresses and complementary assistive technology to support holistic client care. • Apply practical strategies that reduce manual handling risk while improving client outcomes. • Incorporate evidence-based clinical reasoning into bed and mattress prescription across community, aged care and rehabilitation settings.