NDIS Pressure Care Cushions: How to Choose the Right Type and Get It Funded
Written by Nadim Assaf, Registered Pharmacist & CEO — Connect Mobility. NDIS Provider #4050 144 759.
Pressure injuries are one of the most preventable yet most serious complications for NDIS participants who spend significant time seated. They are painful, slow to heal, costly to treat, and can lead to hospitalisation. The right pressure care cushion — correctly selected, correctly set up, and regularly reviewed — is one of the most effective tools available for preventing them.
This guide explains who is at risk, the four main types of pressure cushion and when each is used, how the NDIS funds them, and — critically — the pharmacist perspective on why your medication list matters for cushion selection.
In This Guide
- Why pressure care cushions matter — who is at risk
- The four main types of pressure cushion
- How pressure injury risk is assessed — the Braden Scale
- What the NDIS requires to fund a pressure cushion
- The pharmacist perspective — skin integrity and medications
- How to get a quote from Connect Mobility
1. Why Pressure Care Cushions Matter — Who Is at Risk
A pressure injury (also called a pressure ulcer or bed sore) occurs when sustained pressure on a body part restricts blood flow to the skin and underlying tissue. Without blood flow, tissue begins to break down. For someone who is seated for most of the day, the areas most at risk are the tailbone (coccyx), hips, and thighs.
Who Is at Highest Risk of Pressure Injury?
2. The Four Main Types of Pressure Cushion
No single cushion type is best for everyone. The right choice depends on the person’s pressure injury risk level, their postural support needs, their activity level, and their environment. Here is how each type works and who it suits best.
The 4 Types of Pressure Cushion — At a Glance
3. How Pressure Injury Risk Is Assessed — The Braden Scale
Before prescribing a pressure care cushion, your OT or physiotherapist will conduct a formal seating assessment. One of the most widely used tools in this assessment is the Braden Scale — a clinical scoring system that rates six factors that contribute to pressure injury risk.
The Braden Scale — 6 Factors Assessed
Scores: Each factor scores 1–4. A total score of 18 or below indicates significant risk. Scores of 12 or below indicate very high risk and will typically support NDIS funding for a clinical-grade cushion such as a ROHO air cell system.
4. What the NDIS Requires to Fund a Pressure Care Cushion
Pressure care cushions sit under Capital Supports — Assistive Technology (Category 05) in NDIS plans. Clinical-grade cushions (ROHO, Jay, Vicair, Equagel) are usually mid-cost AT items requiring an OT or physiotherapist assessment.
What the NDIA Needs to See
5. The Pharmacist Perspective — Skin Integrity and Medications
This is where Connect Mobility is different. Most cushion suppliers don’t have a pharmacist on staff.
Pressure injury risk is not just about how long someone sits. It is also about what is happening to their skin at a cellular level — and that is directly influenced by the medications they are taking. An OT assesses functional and environmental factors. A pharmacist assesses the pharmacological factors that most providers never consider.
Corticosteroids (e.g. prednisolone)
Long-term corticosteroid use causes skin thinning (dermal atrophy), reduces collagen production, and impairs wound healing. A person on long-term prednisolone has significantly higher pressure injury risk than their Braden score alone suggests — and needs a higher-grade cushion as a result.
Blood thinners (anticoagulants)
Warfarin, apixaban, and similar medications do not directly cause pressure injuries but significantly complicate healing if one develops. A small wound that would normally resolve in days can become a deep pressure injury in an anticoagulated patient. Prevention is far more important for this group.
Immunosuppressants
Used in transplant patients, autoimmune conditions, and some cancers. They suppress the immune response, slow collagen synthesis, and dramatically increase infection risk from any skin breach. Pressure injury prevention for this group is not optional — it is critical.
Opioids and sedatives
These reduce the person’s awareness of and response to discomfort. Someone on regular opioids may not shift their weight or reposition in response to pressure build-up, significantly increasing their sitting-time risk.
NSAIDs (e.g. ibuprofen, naproxen)
Long-term NSAID use can impair wound healing by suppressing the prostaglandins involved in inflammation and tissue repair. For patients with chronic pain taking daily NSAIDs, this adds to their overall skin fragility picture.
Diuretics
Diuretics increase urinary output, which combined with any continence difficulty significantly increases skin exposure to moisture — one of the key Braden Scale risk factors for pressure injury.
Nadim Assaf, Registered Pharmacist & CEO: “I review the medication list for every participant we supply pressure care products to. In perhaps one in three cases, there is at least one medication that either increases their skin fragility or would complicate wound healing if a pressure injury developed. This changes my product recommendation — often towards a higher-grade air cell cushion than the clinical team initially considered. It’s not about overriding the OT. It’s about completing the clinical picture.”
6. How to Get a Quote from Connect Mobility
We supply a full range of NDIS pressure care products including cushions, overlays, and mattress systems. Our pharmacist reviews every order to ensure the product matches the clinical picture.
Not Sure Which Cushion Is Right? Our Pharmacist Can Advise.
Before you commit NDIS funding, talk to a pharmacist who will review the full clinical picture — not just the product catalogue.
Call 1300 216 888 Mon–Fri 9am–5pm · Same-day quotes · All plan types accepted
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This guide is for general information and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional before making clinical decisions. Last updated June 2026. Connect Mobility NDIS Registration #4050 144 759.