5 Reasons Australian Carers Are Switching to This Gel Cushion to Help Protect Mum and Dad From Pressure Sores
If your parent spends most of the day in one chair, their tailbone is under more pressure than you think. Here's what nurses and occupational therapists say most cushions get wrong.
If you care for an ageing mum or dad who sits for most of the day, pressure sores are probably already on your mind. Maybe you've noticed a red mark above their tailbone. Maybe you're setting alarms to reposition them every 2 hours. And you've probably bought a cushion or two already, memory foam, cooling gel, donut rings, each promising pressure relief.
Most carers we spoke to had a cupboard full of them, and the same fear they started with. The problem usually isn't how much effort you've put in. It's that most cushions are built to feel comfortable in the shop, not to protect an older person's skin over hours of sitting in one spot.
Here's what carers, nurses and occupational therapists say is worth knowing before you buy another one.
Pressure Sores Rarely Start With a Red Mark
A pressure sore starts underneath the skin, over the tailbone, long before you can see it. These are the early signs many carers only recognise looking back.
- Mum or Dad shifts from side to side in their chair, trying to get comfortable.
- They leave the dinner table earlier, or turn down visits they used to enjoy.
- They mention their tailbone or bottom aching, or ask to go to bed earlier.
- Then one evening, you notice a red patch above their tailbone that doesn't fade. That's often the first visible sign of a pressure sore.
Float Cell Technology: Why Foam Was Never Going to Work
Foam has one job under weight, and that's to compress. Under the tailbone and sit bones, where most of the body's weight lands, it slowly packs down until there's very little left between the bone and the chair. That's exactly where pressure sores begin. Gel-infused foam has the same problem, because the gel is mixed into a foam layer and sinks along with it. CareMade uses Float Cell technology, two layers of honeycomb gel cells that flex sideways under weight and pass the load to the cells around them, spreading pressure across the whole seat instead of letting it settle on one point. A cutout in the centre gives the tailbone room, taking load off the spot where pressure sores most often form.
What happens when someone sits for hours
It's Built for Hour 3, Not Minute 1
Almost every cushion feels good when you first sit down, which is why reviews and shop tests can be misleading. Pressure sores don't form in the first minute. They form over hours, so the real question is whether a cushion still protects your parent after 3 hours in the same position. People with limited mobility, including those with Parkinson's, often don't make the small automatic shifts most of us make without thinking. That means the hours between repositioning matter just as much as the repositioning itself. A surface that keeps its shape over long sitting periods helps protect their skin in those hours, without you needing an alarm for every one of them.
It Feels Firm, and That's the Point
Most people expect a good cushion to feel soft and plush. Softness is usually a sign the material will give way under sustained weight, letting the tailbone sink through to the chair, which is how pressure sores start. The honeycomb gel in CareMade has a firm, supportive feel that many users compare to a good mattress. It doesn't sink to the bottom, because each layer of cells works together to hold the person up. Once carers understand why, that first "this feels different" reaction usually becomes the reason they trust it.
They Get to Keep Their Favourite Chair
For many older parents, their chair is one of the last things that is fully theirs. It's where they watch their shows, look out the window and spend most of their day. Replacing it with expensive specialist furniture can feel like losing something, and even a $2,000 recliner still sits them on foam. CareMade measures 41 x 33 x 5 cm and weighs 0.9 kg, so it fits into the chair they already love. It also moves easily to a dining chair, a wheelchair or the car, so their skin stays protected wherever they sit.
You Can Judge It in Their Own Chair
After trying several cushions, most carers are understandably cautious about buying another one. The only test that really matters is how it performs in the actual chair, with the actual person, over real days. CareMade comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which gives you time to see that for yourself. Many families use those weeks to watch how Mum or Dad sits, how they say it feels and what their daily skin checks show. It turns another purchase into a fair trial on your own terms.
Who's Most at Risk of Pressure Sores
Any older person who sits for long hours and finds it hard to shift their own weight is at higher risk. Carers are using CareMade for parents living with:
Parkinson's
The small automatic shifts most of us make slow down, so pressure stays in one place for longer.
After a stroke
Weakness on one side can make it harder to shift weight or change position.
Limited mobility
Sitting 8 to 10 hours a day and getting up less than they used to.
Dementia
They may not notice they need to move, even after long periods in one position.
Diabetes
Reduced sensation can mean they don't feel pressure building while they sit.
Home from hospital
At 0.9 kg it moves easily between recliner, wheelchair and car during recovery.
Wheelchair outings
Takes the support along for appointments, shopping trips and family visits.
Long car rides
Makes the drive to the GP or specialist easier to sit through.
What Carers Are Saying
Finally, a bit more comfort
"I spend most evenings in my recliner watching telly, and lately I'd been getting quite sore around my tailbone. This cushion feels supportive without being too hard. I even take it through to the dining room when we have the family over."
Much nicer for longer drives
"My wife and I do a fair bit of driving to visit the grandkids, and sitting for too long has become uncomfortable over the years. I like how this cushion feels under me, and it fits nicely on my chair at home too. Very happy with it."
Bought this for my mum
"Mum's 81 and always complaining that her favourite chair isn't as comfortable as it used to be. I thought we'd give this a try. She likes the extra support and uses it every afternoon. It's lovely seeing her enjoying her usual routine."
CareMade Pressure Relief Gel Cushion
Designed to help protect older skin from pressure sores during long hours of sitting, not just to feel comfortable in the first minute.
- Float Cell technology, double-layer honeycomb gel
- Centre cutout to give the tailbone area room
- 41 x 33 x 5 cm, 0.9 kg, fits most chairs
- Moves easily between armchair, dining chair, wheelchair and car
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Getting Started Is Simple
Order from the official website
It ships to your door, so there's no need to visit a store.
Place it in their chair
Position the centre cutout under the tailbone area, then let them settle in.
Watch the next 30 days
See how they sit, how they say it feels and what their daily skin checks show.
The Bottom Line
Most cushions on the market are variations of the same idea, a softer or thicker layer of foam with a new label on it. CareMade takes a different approach, using Float Cell technology and a centre cutout to spread pressure away from where it builds up, and to keep doing that across long hours of sitting. For carers, that means less worry about pressure sores between checks, and for Mum or Dad, it means staying comfortable in the chair that feels like home.
At this point there are really two options.
Keep using standard cushions
Stay with foam and gel-infused cushions, and keep checking for the same red marks, setting the same alarms and worrying a pressure sore is on the way.
Address the root cause
Try a cushion built around why pressure sores start in the first place, with 30 days to see the difference in their own chair.
A note on where to buy
CareMade is only available through the official website. Similar-looking gel cushions are sold on marketplaces like Amazon and in some retail stores, but they're not the same product and often use thinner, single-layer gel or foam bases.
If you'd like to try it, ordering directly ensures you receive the genuine cushion and are covered by the 30-day money-back guarantee.
Help Protect Mum or Dad From Pressure Sores
See the CareMade Pressure Relief Gel Cushion, the Float Cell design and the centre cutout, and claim the Spring Sale while it lasts.
Get the Limited Sale Now 👉Advertorial. This article is a sponsored feature and contains promotional content for CareMade.
The information in this article is general in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always follow the care plan provided by your loved one's doctor, nurse or occupational therapist, and speak with them about any concerns regarding skin health or seating.