How To Choose a Hospital Bed for Home Care
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Hospital beds come in a wide variety of styles, designs and sizes to meet the needs of loved ones at home. Special attention should be taken to ensure that hospital bed features closely match the needs of loved ones. It is important to make a list of which hospital bed features are most important in order to choose wisely and stay within budget.
Here are 5 things to consider when choosing a hospital bed for home.
Full electric hospital bed controls enable loved ones and caregivers to adjust the bed frame, head and foot with push button controls. Semi-electric hospital beds allow the head and foot of the bed to be raised and lowered with the push of a button on the remote control. The height of the bed frame may be fixed in one position or adjusted with a manual crank depending on the model. Semi-electric beds are more economical than fully electric beds but the fixed bed frame height may make providing care to loved ones more difficult.
Weight capacity is one of the most important considerations when choosing a hospital bed for a loved one. Serious injury can occur if the bed frame collapses due to excess weight. Bariatric beds are designed to safely hold up to 750 pounds with up to 48&#; width. They are ideal to comfortably accommodate larger and heavier users. The weight capacity and additional width may also allow family members to be in the bed to hold their loved one or relax together if desired.
Some hospital bed frames are set at a fixed height while others can be adjusted to higher and lower positions as needed. The bed frame may need to be adjusted to the best height for loved ones to get in and out of bed and to a different height for caregivers to provide assistance. High low beds have a height range of approximately 8&#; to 20&#; so that the mattress can be lowered nearly to the floor. This is helpful for loved ones who might roll out of bed or try to get up without asking for assistance, especially when a thick mat is placed alongside the bed.
Trendelenburg position allows the bed frame to tilt so that the head is down and the feet are elevated. This can be helpful to reduce the effort needed when caregivers lift loved ones toward the head of the bed. Reverse Trendelenburg position may be used to help loved ones turn onto the side while keeping the head elevated. This can be helpful for some loved ones with shortness of breath or tube feeding.
Full length side rails can be used with pads to help protect loved ones from injury due to seizures. Grab bars and half-length side rails provide support for loved ones as they are repositioned in the bed and they can keep remote controls within easy reach. They also provide stability as loved ones get in and out of bed. Side rails and grab bars must be securely attached to the bed frame to prevent injury.
Hospital bed head and foot boards are available in a wide variety of shapes and finish colors to fit into any décor. The head and foot boards should be mounted securely to the bed frame so that an overhead trapeze assist bar can be used if desired. The footboard may also be used to support pumps for air mattresses or venous therapy.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a hospital bed for a loved one is never an easy task. To make the right choice you&#;ll have to consider your loved one&#;s needs, the bed&#;s safety and positioning features, available bed accessories and affordability. It is important to always speak with a doctor about specific needs before obtaining a hospital bed for home use.
We always want you to feel informed before you make a purchase. If you have any doubts that a bed is right for you, please contact HomeCare Hospital Beds team, so we can help you make the right choice.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit electric hospital beds for sale.
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Need help finding a home hospital bed? Read our latest Hospital Bed Buying Guide.
Struggling to get in and out of bed? Need relief from pressure sores or achey joints? Dealing with a chronic health condition? Home hospital beds can provide significant relief, improve health outcomes, and improve everyday life for a wide range of people.
Here are our top tips for choosing a home hospital bed to improve you or a loved one&#;s quality of life.
How much would you like to rely on manpower to change patient positioning in your home hospital bed?
Manual Hospital Beds: Rely on cranks to raise and lower the head and feet of the bed without motors
Semi-Electric Hospital Beds: Use a motorized system to raise and lower the head and knees of the bed, but often rely on a manual crank system for vertical adjustments.
Electric Hospital Beds: These beds are fully electric&#; users can change their position in bed, transition to a seated position, or raise and lower the platform of a bed with the push of a button.
If cost is an important consideration for you, manual and semi electric beds are the most affordable option.
Click here to learn more about the details between electric and manual beds.
First and foremost, you need to ensure that the bed can fully support your patient. The weight capacity of the bed can vary depending on type and model, but most standard hospital beds support a weight capacity of up to 500lbs.
Looking for a bed that can support larger patients? Look into bariatric beds, which can safely support patients of up to 1,000lbs.
When it comes to effective caregiving, nothing is more important than patient safety. Depending on your patient or loved one&#;s specific mobility and health concerns, certain hospital bed safety features can help support their day to day wellbeing.
Modern home hospital beds come with a wide range of safety features, including (but not limited to!):
Each manufacturer provides their own warranty terms, which may protect against defects in materials and workmanship, mechanical failure, electrical components, and more.
Before you purchase a hospital bed, make sure to check the warranty terms to understand what&#;s covered (and what&#;s not).
Pro-Tip: When browsing the MedMart online catalog, we make it easy for you. Check out the &#;Warranty&#; tab on each product description page&#; we&#;ll tell you exactly what the warranty terms are for that hospital bed!
If you&#;re looking to purchase a hospital bed package, they often come with the mattress included with the hospital bed frame. Be sure to look into the benefits of different mattress types to best suit your patient or facility.
Some common mattress types include:
Hospital bed rails, also known as bed guards or assist rails, attach to the side of a hospital bed to help improve safety, comfort, and independence for patients and seniors using home hospital beds.
They can come as part of a hospital bed package, or purchased separately. Some popular types of bed rails include:
When searching for any at-home or facility medical equipment product, it&#;s important to stay in budget. Hospital beds can range in cost from as little as $600 to over $5,000 depending on the model and features included.
The good news? With hundreds of available hospital bed options, it&#;s guaranteed that you&#;ll be able to find a solution that fits your budget.
Don&#;t forget about additional features and add-ons! Differing home hospital bed models come with a wide range of features and bed accessories to make daily life and care easier. From built-in scales, to USB charging ports, under-bed lighting, and more&#; don&#;t forget to review the extra details that make each hospital bed unique.
The right home hospital bed can make all the difference in everyday life for both you and a loved one. We encourage you to browse our collection of industry-leading home hospital beds, or contact our team or product experts to find your perfect fit.
For more information, please visit hospital trolleys.