Best Mattress for Bed Sores in South Africa (2026) - What Actually Helps
No ordinary mattress prevents or treats pressure sores, and we do not claim otherwise. Anyone bedbound or with a sore needs clinician-guided pressure-care equipment. For an ordinary home bed where risk is low, the Revive Memory Foam from R4,899 spreads body weight over a 65 kg/m3 core, but repositioning still matters most.
Wheelchair and paraplegic guideSee the Revive
The numbers behind every Mr Mattress
| Fact | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Foam density | Comfort Foam and Active Foam 50 kg/m3, Revive 65 kg/m3 core, all SABS-approved foam |
| Weight rating | Revive up to 140 kg per sleeper. Ultra 200 up to 200 kg per sleeper, 300 mm deep |
| Home trial | 365 nights, plus a 30 day money-back guarantee |
| Warranty | 10 years on Active, Revive, Ultra 200 and Hybrid, 3 years on Comfort Foam. A fixed written term, never pro-rated |
| Delivery | Free nationwide, a small fee only for extreme rural areas, 3 to 7 working days |
| Track record | Over 25,000 beds delivered. Rated 4.7 out of 5 by 523 Mr Mattress customers on Google |
| Made in | Six South African manufacturing regions: Gauteng, Cape Town, East London, Bloemfontein, Durban and Mpumalanga |
Mr Mattress supplied the beds and mattresses for the Charlotte Maxeke Treatment Centre in Botshabelo, a Free State Department of Social Development facility officially opened by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Freedom Day, 27 April 2021. See our verified track record.
The Revive, for ordinary home use
Revive Memory Foam Mattress
A comfort mattress for general home use. Not a medical or pressure-care mattress.
65 kg/m3 core, 10 year warranty.
View Revive Memory FoamPrices are live Mr Mattress prices checked on 18 October 2026, mattress only. Delivery is free nationwide, with a small fee only for extreme rural areas.
What a mattress can and cannot do
| Situation | What to look at | Our position |
|---|---|---|
| Low risk, mobile, wants comfort | A high density foam mattress such as the Revive | A reasonable comfort choice, and not a substitute for repositioning |
| Limited mobility, some risk | Ask a nurse or occupational therapist first | Widely accepted guidance is repositioning at least every 2 hours |
| Bedbound, high risk or an existing sore | Medical pressure-care equipment chosen by a clinician | We do not sell pressure-care or medical mattresses |
Before anything else: if you or someone you're caring for already has a pressure sore, is bedbound, or is at high risk, please speak to a healthcare professional about wound care, repositioning, and the right pressure-care equipment for their specific condition. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Quick answer: a standard foam mattress cannot prevent or treat bed sores; accepted practice is repositioning at least every 2 hours plus an alternating air pressure mattress for anyone bedbound or at high risk, which Mr Mattress does not sell. For everyday comfort where there is no existing sore or high clinical risk, our Revive Memory Foam is a reasonable general-comfort choice, not a substitute for pressure-care equipment.
Sleep better. 365 night trial. 10 year warranty. 30 day money back guarantee.
Let's be straightforward about this: Mr Mattress doesn't sell medical pressure-care equipment, and a standard foam mattress, ours or anyone else's, is not the right answer if someone already has a bed sore or is bedbound at high risk. The actual solution for that situation is an alternating air pressure mattress, which continuously changes where the body's weight rests, or in milder cases a purpose-built pressure-relief overlay. We'd rather point you to the right product than pretend a comfort mattress can do a medical device's job.
The mattress redistributes pressure. Care prevents sores.
These are two different jobs, and conflating them is how people get hurt. A mattress, foam or powered, changes how weight is distributed across the body while someone lies on it. That matters, but on its own it does not prevent a pressure sore. Prevention is a care routine: repositioning on a schedule (accepted guidance is at least every 2 hours in bed, more often in a wheelchair), regular skin checks for early redness that does not fade when pressed, adequate nutrition and hydration, and moisture management. A mattress is one input into that routine, not a replacement for it. Anyone telling you a mattress alone prevents or cures bed sores is not being straight with you, and we are not going to be that supplier.
Where density genuinely matters is within that routine: a low-density, worn-out mattress bottoms out under bony prominences (heels, hips, sacrum, shoulder blades), concentrating pressure exactly where it is most dangerous. A higher-density foam holds its shape and spreads the load more evenly across a larger surface area, which is a real, physical difference, published as a kg/m3 figure rather than a marketing word like "orthopaedic" or "pressure-relieving". Our Revive Memory Foam publishes a 65 kg/m3 SABS-approved support core with a memory-foam top for exactly this reason: it is a genuinely better-specified comfort mattress than a low-density one, for someone who does not need active, powered pressure redistribution.
What actually helps, by situation
| Situation | What's recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Existing sore, bedbound, or very high risk | Alternating air pressure mattress | Actively redistributes pressure on a cycle, rather than passively cushioning one position |
| Mild risk or early-stage prevention | Pressure-relief foam mattress or overlay | Passive but purpose-shaped for pressure distribution, suited to people who can still move somewhat |
| Budget or short-term need | Bubble-style anti-bedsore mattress | Lower cost, generally suited to stage 1 sores or short-term/home use rather than ongoing high-risk care |
| No existing sore, no high-risk flags, everyday comfort | Revive Memory Foam, from R4,899 | 65 kg/m3 SABS-approved core, better weight distribution than low-density foam, but a comfort product, not a medical device |
Turning schedules: the part a mattress cannot replace
Whatever surface someone is on, a repositioning schedule is still the frontline defence against pressure sores. Widely accepted guidance is repositioning at least every 2 hours for someone in bed, and more frequently, sometimes hourly, for someone sitting in a wheelchair, since sitting concentrates weight onto a much smaller area at the sacrum and ischial tuberosities than lying down does. A Braden or Waterlow risk assessment from a clinician gives an objective score for how much risk someone is actually carrying, rather than guessing. None of this is optional because a mattress is good; the mattress and the care routine work together, and skipping the routine because the mattress feels supportive is exactly how a sore develops unnoticed.
South African suppliers of actual pressure-care equipment
These are specialist suppliers of the equipment described above, not us, and we're not affiliated with them, but they're worth checking directly for current stock, pricing and delivery:
- RentMed: pressure-care air mattresses.
- Summit Surgical: alternating air-cell mattresses and anti-bedsore bubble mattresses.
- Mr Mobility: pressure-care mattresses and anti-bedsore ranges.
- LifeCare Solutions: anti-bedsore bubble mattresses.
- be·ABLE Solutions (Plumstead / Southern Suburbs, Cape Town): pressure-relief mattresses and overlays.
- CliniHealth: anti-bedsore electric ripple mattresses.
- Beds & Pillows: hospital bed mattresses.
What to check with any of them: alternating inflation or active pressure redistribution (for existing sores or high risk), breathable medical-grade materials, easy cleaning, correct sizing for the bed, and an adjustable-settings pump if it's an air system.
If you're not dealing with an existing sore or high risk
If you're simply looking for a comfortable, supportive mattress for everyday use, not for someone bedbound or with a diagnosed pressure-sore risk, our foam range is built around even weight distribution and published density figures, which is a different problem to the one above. The Revive Memory Foam (65 kg/m3 core, memory top) is our most contouring option for general pressure-point comfort at the hips and shoulders. It is not a medical device and is not a substitute for pressure-care equipment where there's an actual clinical need.
A track record with vulnerable-care facilities, confirmed by government sources
In May 2020, Parliament of South Africa's own newsletter reported that we donated 60 beds and mattresses to a Botshabelo children's place of safety during the COVID-19 lockdown, at the appeal of the Free State MEC for Social Development. The following year, Mr Mattress supplied the beds and mattresses for the Charlotte Maxeke Treatment Centre in Botshabelo, a Free State Department of Social Development facility officially opened by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Freedom Day, 27 April 2021. We have also supplied Ebenhaeser Home for the Aged in Cloetesville, Stellenbosch, and Sunflower House children's hospice in Bloemfontein. A Bloemfontein foot specialist refers patients to us daily. We have been building beds for 14 years, and over that time have built roughly 750 beds for wheelchair users specifically, a related but distinct group from the bed sore risk this page covers. See the full record, with every government source linked.
Related guides
- Mattress for Wheelchair Users in South Africa: an honest guide, the closest related risk group, with its own triage table and honest South African pressure-care prices.
- Mattresses and Bed Sores: What a Standard Mattress Can and Can't Do
- Best Mattress for a Heavy Person in South Africa
Frequently asked questions
Can a regular foam mattress prevent or treat bed sores?
Not for someone who is bedbound, at high risk, or already has a sore, that situation needs an alternating air pressure mattress or a purpose-built pressure-care overlay. A quality foam mattress is a comfort product for general use, not a substitute for medical pressure-care equipment.
What's the difference between an alternating air mattress and a foam mattress?
An alternating air mattress actively changes which areas bear weight on a repeating cycle, using a pump. A foam mattress passively cushions the body in one position and cannot redistribute pressure over time the way an active system can.
Does Mr Mattress sell pressure-care or medical mattresses?
No, we sell foam and hybrid comfort mattresses for general home use. For pressure-care equipment, see the specialist suppliers listed above.
Who should I talk to about bed sore risk or existing sores?
A doctor, wound-care nurse, or occupational therapist can assess the risk and recommend the right equipment and care plan for the specific situation, this page is general information, not medical advice.
How often should someone at risk of bed sores be repositioned?
Widely accepted guidance is at least every 2 hours for someone in bed, and more frequently, sometimes hourly, for someone sitting in a wheelchair. A clinician's Braden or Waterlow risk assessment can give an objective score for a specific situation.
Does foam density actually matter for pressure sore risk?
Yes, within its limits. A low-density, worn mattress bottoms out under bony prominences, concentrating pressure exactly where sores start. A higher-density foam, like our Revive's 65 kg/m3 SABS-approved core, spreads load more evenly. It is still a passive comfort surface, not a substitute for an active powered system where one is clinically needed.
Can I buy the Revive if a family member has a pressure sore risk but no existing sore?
If a clinician has assessed the risk as mild and there is no existing sore, a well-specified foam mattress like the Revive can be a reasonable general-comfort choice alongside a proper repositioning schedule. If risk is assessed as high, or a sore already exists, please see the suppliers and guidance above instead.
This page is intended as general information to help you find the right type of product. It is not medical advice, and Mr Mattress is not affiliated with the suppliers listed above.
If you are shopping for everyday comfort rather than pressure care, every Mr Mattress comes with a 365-night home trial and free nationwide delivery.
Written and reviewed by Andries Taljaard, Founder of Mr Mattress. Last updated 12 September 2026.
Not sure which mattress suits the person you are caring for? Answer three short questions about how your bed feels, who sleeps on it and how heavy the heaviest sleeper is, and we will point you to one mattress with the real price, density and weight rating for it. No email needed.
Updated 18 October 2026
What a standard mattress can and cannot do
In pictures
More questions, answered
Who should I speak to before choosing a mattress for bed sore risk?
A doctor, wound-care nurse or occupational therapist. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Where do I read more about wheelchair users and pressure care?
Our honest guide for wheelchair users and paraplegic sleepers sets out the four tiers of equipment and South African prices.
Keep reading
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