Buyer's Guide · Span America
The Complete Span America Mattress Guide
The right support surface is the one matched to the person on it: their skin risk, their weight, their mobility, and where they sleep. EnhDme carries the complete Span America line, so you can compare every option in one place.
The average person spends about one-third of an 80-year life in bed.
Source: Dreams Sleep Matters Club
For seniors, people recovering from surgery, and anyone with limited mobility, those hours matter even more. Time in one position puts steady pressure on the skin over the hips, heels, and tailbone, and that is where pressure injuries begin.
Span America builds surfaces for every point on that path. Some are designed to prevent breakdown in people at risk. Others are built to treat wounds that already exist. Some add safety features for people who roll or slide toward the edge, and some are sized for bariatric users. The line falls into four families:
Quick Finder
Family 1 · 9 systems
A control unit moves air through cylinders under the body, actively shifting pressure so no single spot carries the load for long. Every PressureGuard powered mattress pairs those cylinders with a foam shell and Safety Edge bolsters, so the bed holds its shape at the sides and keeps its air if the power goes out.
The straightforward starting point for alternating-pressure therapy. Air cylinders sit under a Geo-Matt foam top, with a simple comfort dial and a low-pressure indicator on the control unit. Fits standard hospital beds.
Everything in the APM, plus lateral rotation to gently turn the body side to side. A digital control unit adds power-failure and low-pressure alarms, and Shear Transfer Zone bands help reduce friction on the skin.
The APM2 Deluxe with a raised perimeter for users who drift toward the edge. On 35" sizes the sides rise to 9" (7" in the center), with a lowered, padded opening for getting in and out. The raised perimeter is a positioning aid, not a substitute for bed rails.
A "smart" mattress that reads the user and sets its own air profile. SmartImmerse adjusts automatically for the person on the bed, so caregivers don't have to dial in comfort settings by hand. Its Auto Firm mode is also listed for use during CPR.
A full system with continuous airflow under the coverlet and an audible low-pressure alarm. Max Immersion mode serves lighter users (under 120 lb), and the mattress holds its air during a power outage.
The Protocol system with raised foam sides, 9" at the edges and 7" in the center. A good fit for users who need active therapy and a clear boundary at the edge of the bed. As with all raised-perimeter surfaces, the sides are not bed rails.
A complete system (mattress, control unit, and washable coverlet) that combines low air loss with alternating pressure. It draws under 15 watts, includes a control lockout to prevent accidental changes, and offers the widest size range of the standard-width powered systems.
Alternating-pressure therapy built for larger users, with a three-zone cycle. Caregivers choose a 20-, 25-, or 30-minute cycle and one of 10 comfort settings, with power-failure and low-pressure alarms built in.
The highest-capacity surface in the Span America line, rated up to 1,000 lb. Four air cylinders sit inside a dual-layer foam shell, and a clinician can set it to flotation or alternating pressure. Designed for users of 350 lb and up.
Family 2 · 5 surfaces
The pressure-spreading benefit of air without a motor, a cord, or a control unit to manage. Linked air cylinders shift air on their own as the body moves. They are quiet, keep working through any power outage, and are simple for family caregivers to live with.
Constant Force Technology: air cylinders and reservoirs that rebalance themselves. A 2" Geo-Matt top and heel slope add comfort and heel protection. Renew the air every six months with an inexpensive kit and the mattress keeps performing.
The same self-adjusting CFT design, scaled up with six to eight air cylinders for larger users. No power means no alarms to manage and nothing to fail, a real advantage at home.
Metered Immersion air chambers let the body sink in just enough, with a cover built for heavy cleaning. The LifeSpan cover resists bleach, a strong choice for facilities with strict infection-control routines.
A mattress that grows with the user's needs. It works as a non-powered air/foam surface on day one. If needs change, add a control unit and it converts to a powered system with alternating pressure, lateral rotation, and low air loss, no mattress swap required.
A powered topper that manages heat and moisture on the mattress you already have. Its Air Diffusion Matrix moves air across the skin to keep it cooler and drier, since warm, damp skin breaks down faster. It does not alternate pressure, so pair it with a supportive mattress.
Family 3 · 2 models
Not everyone wants a hospital bed in the bedroom. These models bring PressureGuard therapy to household sizes, so a couple can keep sharing a bed and the room still feels like home.
Self-adjusting CFT air therapy on one side of the bed, standard support on the other. On Full, Full Long, and Queen, air therapy covers half the width, so the person who needs it gets therapy while their partner sleeps on a familiar surface. It sits on a standard box spring with no pump, cord, or noise.
Powered PressureGuard therapy in household sizes. The choice when someone at home needs active, powered pressure redistribution rather than a non-powered surface, without giving up a full-size bed.
Also good at home: the Geo-Mattress Plus comes in Twin, Full, Queen, and King for anyone who needs therapeutic foam rather than air.
Family 4 · 8 models
No pump, no power, no noise, and nothing to fail in an outage. Most share Span America's signature Geo-Matt top: more than 800 individual cells with Ring-of-Air channels between them to move air and reduce heat. Most also include a sloped heel section, since heels are one of the most common places pressure injuries start.
The simple, budget-friendly home care mattress. A single 5" layer of foam with a three-zone cross-cut top and a replaceable, fluid-proof cover. Rotate it head-to-foot for even wear; it ships folded for easy delivery.
A step up from the HC, with more height, more capacity, and a heel slope. A 6" segmented foam mattress with a pleated cover that resists hammocking. The 6" height can change effective side-rail height, so check your bed's guidance.
Built for people who sit on the edge of the bed to dress, eat, or transfer. The firm perimeter gives a stable edge that does not collapse when you sit on it, while the zoned Geo-Matt top cushions the rest of the body.
The most size-flexible mattress in the line, from hospital beds to a household King. Two foam layers, softer on top and firmer underneath, give a comfortable feel with solid support on a standard home bed frame.
Raised, extra-firm side bolsters help keep a restless sleeper centered. The "wings" rise to 8" at the sides versus 6" in the center, and padded, lowered openings along the long edges keep transfers easy.
The premium foam mattress in the line. A high-performance UHP 500 foam core with 3-D zoning, silicone-coated Shear Transfer Zones to reduce friction and shear, and an extra-soft tapered heel section.
UltraMax-level foam, cut to fit transport and procedure stretchers. Patients can spend hours on a stretcher in an ER or pre-op area; this pad brings real pressure redistribution to that time. A two-piece "Gynie" version fits OB/GYN stretchers.
Bariatric foam that still articulates on a standard hospital bed frame. Four foam layers, firmer toward the base, sit under the Geo-Matt top to support larger users without bottoming out.
How to Choose
Answer these and the right mattress usually comes down to two or three options. Always check with the user's doctor, nurse, or wound care team, especially if a pressure injury is already present.
FAQ
Alternating pressure moves pressure around the body by inflating and deflating air cylinders on a timed cycle. Low air loss blows a gentle stream of air under the cover to keep skin cool and dry. The PressureGuard Easy Air combines both.
Not always. Many people at moderate risk do well on foam like the Geo-Mattress UltraMax or self-adjusting air like the PressureGuard CFT. Powered systems are typically recommended for higher-risk users or existing wounds. Ask the care team which level fits.
PressureGuard powered systems are built to hold their air during a power loss, and models like the APM2 Deluxe and Bariatric APM sound a power-failure alarm. Non-powered CFT and Custom Care models aren't affected by outages at all.
Yes. The CFT In-Home Styles, APM2 Deluxe In-Home, and Geo-Mattress Plus come in household sizes. Most other models are sized for hospital and home care bed frames.
Look at raised-perimeter surfaces: the Geo-Mattress with Wings, APM2 Safety Supreme, or Protocol with Raised Perimeter. Raised sides help with positioning but are not bed rails; follow your bed and care team's guidance on fall protection.
It depends on the therapy needed. The Geo-Mattress Atlas (up to 750 lb) is non-powered foam, the CFT Bariatric (750 lb) is self-adjusting air, and the Bariatric APM (750 lb) and Easy Air XL (up to 1,000 lb) are powered.
It is Span America's signature top layer, cut into more than 800 individual cells with air channels between them. The cells move independently to cradle the body and help reduce heat under the skin. It appears across most of the Geo-Mattress and PressureGuard lines.
Yes, with the Custom Care Convertible LAL. It starts as a non-powered mattress and converts to a powered system with alternating pressure, lateral rotation, and low air loss when a control unit is added.
Measure the length and width of the bed deck before ordering, then match it to the sizes listed on each product page. Also note mattress height; a thicker mattress can change how high side rails sit above the surface.
Coverage depends on your plan and medical need. Several models list HCPCS codes on their product pages (for example E0184 for the Geo-Mattress HC and 350, E0277 for the Protocol and APM, and E0373 for the CFT), which you can share with your insurer or provider. Contact us with questions.
Shop the Line
Not sure which one fits? Contact our team and we'll help you match the right surface to the person who will sleep on it.
This guide is for general information and is not medical advice. Specifications are taken from EnhDme product pages; confirm details on each page before ordering.
About the Author
Kevin Lambing, CDME is the CEO and founder of EnhDme, a retail DME and home-care hardware distributor based in Columbus, Mississippi, and a nationally recognized voice in family caregiving. He is the author of Swipe Right On Care and a two-time presenter of the National Caregiver of the Year Award at the Home Care Association of America.
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