My brother and his air bed!

Welcome kami! Sorry to hear about your brother, accidents suck!

In regards to the mattress, I think an air mattress is the best for him. He might have to sacrifice comfort but it's worth doing so to prevent pressure sores. I have a foam mattress which also helps prevent pressure sore and I find it comfortable. Maybe he can give that a try but a regular spring mattress is probably not a good long term idea.

Where is he being looked after kami? If he is in bed 90% of the time, it isnt good and if they know their job, they should also be knowing to turn him...what country are you in?

kami, which spinal unit did he go to? He shouldnt be in a nursing home..

Sorry too hear about your brother! Been there myself! If your brother is in bed most of the time, the staff need too turn him at least every 4 hours! Also see if they can provide him with a S pillow it's like a big long flexi plopped which they can put between his legs and under is neck! But must turn him regular! Regarding chair I had similar problems but pain relief help! Too maintain sitting a little week by week! I hope your brother gets better!

wavewolf I had an air mattress while I was at rehab and not that you mention it, they do get hot! That could also be why your brother doesn't like it kami. Maybe he should try a foam mattress like I have!

Thanks for all your replies. Right from the beginning I believe my brother's situation was made worse from when the police found him lying at the bottom of his stairs and tried to make him walk with what was later found to be a broken neck. They phoned me and said he had a bad gash on his head and was having problems walking so they called an ambulance, but that otherwise he was ok!
Lara, he was in Stanmore Rehab Centre for a few weeks after months getting him stable in various hospitals, but they eventually decided they could do no more for him and they wanted his bed for others less infirm so they shipped him out to a nursing home miles away from family/friends. Whilst he was there he got a very bad chest infection and almost died but he was taken to intensive care unit in a hospital, re ventilated, and recovered, although since then he has been much weaker than before. Now he's closer to home but docs now say that if he became so sick again, or if he suffered a heart attack, they will not transfer him to a hospital any more as, even if he recovered, he would be far worse than he is now, which isn't good anyway! So he has it in his notes DO NOT RESSUCITATE. All his family and friends can do now is try to keep him as comfy and happy as possible, and a good bed is key to that.
Originally he was getting terrible pains in his shoulders which even with pain killers was too much for him to want to make the effort to get out of bed. I firmly believe that he hasn't had the best treatment over the past 15 months but unfortunately this is partly his own fault for not always complying with doctor's wishes, like getting into a chair, and patient's charter is that they cannot force any treatment if he doesn't want it. So he's just got weaker and weaker because all he wants to do now is sleep and watch TV. At one time he was able to hold a pen and faintly sign his name, I was there and saw him do it, but the docs never believed me and I think they just gave up on trying.
Thanks for the info about the turning bed, and also the special pillow, I'll investigate both further.