Vic roll out of mattress upgrade program in state nursing homes
The Victorian Government has rolled out a $1.07 million program to upgrade mattresses in State owned residential aged care centres. The bulk of the centres receiving the mattresses are in regional Victoria.
The Pressure Reduction Mattresses will help to relieve pressure ulcers which result in pain, reduced mobility, increased risk of complications and higher health care costs. Maintaining skin integrity is a key care component of running effective residential aged care services and pressure reduction mattresses help deliver high standard services to clients.
Up to one in six older Victorians experience pressure wounds and one in 100 get leg ulcers.
The $1.07 million investment follows an investment of $7.4 million over the past four years for electronic beds and lifting equipment and $2 million for similar mattresses in hospitals.
The Victorian Government provides nearly 40% of aged care residential places in rural Victoria and some 16% of total places across the state.
