An alternating pressure mattress pad should be used for patients who are likely to spend more than 15 hours per day in bed or who are classified as medium to high risk of developing pressure ulcers, or bedsores. People at higher risk are typically: seriously ill; not mobile; have spinal cord injury; do not eat a proper diet; wear prosthesis; smoke; are incontinent of stool or urine; have diabetes; have COPD or heart failure; have Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or heart failure; or have a broken hip or have had a recent hip surgery.