COMFORT DEVICES

BY
Mrs. Babitha K Devu
Assistant Professor
SMVDCoN
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

COMFORT - DEFINITION
 Comfort- The absence of irritating
stimuli that distract one's
attention from the task at hand.
 Comfort- The state of freedom
from pain, discomfort, tension &
anxiety.
 Comfort- Is a sense of mental and
physical well being.
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

COMFORT DEVICES- DEFINITION

 Comfort devices are the mechanical
devices planned to provide optimal
comfort to an individual.
 Comfort devices are invented articles
which would add comfort to the
patient when used in appropriate
manner.
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

LIST OF COMFORT DEVICES…

1. PILLOWS 6. TRAPEZE BAR

2. BACK REST 7. FOOTBOARD

3. BED CRADLE 8.TROCHANTER

4. CARDIAC ROLLS

TABLE 9.SANDBAGS
5. MATTRESSES 10.SIDE RAILS
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

List of comfort devices…

11. WEDGE/ 14. AIR CUSHION

ABDUCTOR PILLOW
15. RUBBER &
12.KNEE REST COTTON RINGS

13.BED BLOCKS 16. HAND ROLLS

17. SPLINTS & BRACES
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

FACTORS PROMOTING AND INHIBITING

COMFORT
Factors promoting Factors inhibiting
Normal temperature Too high or too low temperature
Mormal humidity Dry or too humid environment
Safe, clean, quite and comfortable Unsafe, unpleasant and stressful environment
environment

Comfortable positions Uncomfortable position

Neat and clean bed and linen Dirty and soiled bed and linen
Good ventilation Poor ventilation
Normal lighting Glaring or too dim lighting
Pleasant odours Unpleasant odours
No fear Fear
No stress and worry Stress and worry
MECHANICAL DEVICES FOR
COMFORT MEASURES
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

PILLOWS
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

PILLOWS

 PURPOSES:
 Used for support to maintain correct
body alignment

 Used under head , arms , legs & along

spine or abdomen to provide comfort.
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

BACK REST
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

BACK REST
 Support patient’s back at an angle , so
that he may maintain a sitting position.

 Can be adjusted to desired angle.

 Extra pillows are needed.

 Arms of patient are well supported.

 Used for pts suffering with cardiac &

pulmonary distress.
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

BACK REST
 PURPOSES:
I. To relieve dyspnoea.
II. To promote drainage from abdominal
cavity.
III. To provide a comfortable change of
position.
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

BED CRADLE
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

BED CRADLE
• It is a frame used to hold the bed linen
from touching the pt.
• Cradle is a semicircular / rectangular frame
of metal.
• May be made of wood or bamboo.

• PURPOSES:
• To prevent pressure from the weight of
linen.
• To allow air to circulate around lower limbs.
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

CARDIAC TABLE
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

CARDIAC TABLE
• Bed table placed in front with a pillow on it,
patient can lean forward & take rest.
• Table without pillow is used for writing &
meals.
• Used for pts with cardiac conditions & asthma.
• Position should be changed to relieve fatigue.

PURPOSES:
 Patient can rest over the table with the help
of pillow.
 Helps to take meals & in writing.
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

AIR MATTRESS water mattress

 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

MATTRESSES

MAINLY TWO TYPES:

• 1. AIR MATTRESS

• 2. WATER MATTRESS

 PURPOSES:
 To provide comfort
 Used for very thin and very obese patients
and those who are prone to pressure sores.
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

TRAPEZE BAR
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

TRAPEZE BAR

Bar is suspended from an overhead frame

to head of bed

 PURPOSES:
Patient can grasp the bar to raise the
trunk off the bed surface or to move
up in bed.
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

FOOTBOARD
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

FOOTBOARD

• Device that is placed towards the foot

of pts bed to serve as support for his
feet
• Usually made up of wood/plastic/heavy
canvas

PURPOSES:
 To support patients feet
 To prevent foot drop.
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

TROCHANTER ROLLS
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

TROCHANTER ROLLS

• A cotton bath blanket/sheet is folded

lengthwise to width extending from
greater trochanter of femur to lower
border of popliteal space

PURPOSES:
Prevent external rotation of legs when
patient is in supine position
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

SANDBAGS
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

SANDBAGS

• They are sand filled plastic bags that

can be shaped to body contours
• Can be used in place of or in addition
to trochanter rolls

• PURPOSES:
• Provide support & shape to body
• Immobilize extremities & maintain
specific body alignment
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

SIDE RAILS
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

SIDE RAILS

• Side rails are the bars positioned along

the sides of the length of the bed

• PURPOSES:
• Ensure patient’s safety & are useful
for increasing mobility

• Provide assistance in rolling from side

to side or sitting up in bed
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

WEDGE/ABDUCTOR PILLOW
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

WEDGE/ABDUCTOR PILLOW

• It is a triangular shaped pillow made of

heavy foam

• PURPOSES:
• Used to maintain legs in abduction
following Total Hip Replacement Surgery
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

KNEE REST
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

KNEE REST

 This is a device placed under the knees to

provide comfort.

PURPOSES:
 This gives relaxation and thus relieves
pain on tendons beneath the knees.
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

BED BLOCKS
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

BED BLOCKS

 Made up of wood or metal.

 PURPOSES:
 These are used to raise the foot end or
head end of the bed
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

AIR CUSHION
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

AIR CUSHION

Air cushions are made up of rubber and it

can be inflated with air

PURPOSES:
 Used to take off the weight of the body
and to relieve pressure on certain parts
of the body.
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

RUBBER RING COTTON RING

 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

RUBBER & COTTON RINGS

These are circular rings made of rubber or

cotton.

PURPOSES:
 These are used to relieve pressure on
certain parts of the body like elbow and
heels.
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

HAND ROLLS
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

HAND ROLLS
• Made by folding a washcloth in half ,
rolling in lengthwise & securing roll with
tape.
• Roll is placed against palmar surface of
hand.

Purposes:
• Maintain thumb in slightly adducted & in
opposition to fingers.
• Maintain fingers in slightly flexed position.
 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

SPLINTS & BRACES

 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

SPLINTS & BRACES

 Mrs. Babitha K Devu, Asstt. Professor

The End