How to choose a hospital bed for home care

29 Apr.,2024

 

How to choose a hospital bed for home care

Nobody expects to require a hospital bed

Llewellyn did not expect to be admitted to the hospital. 4 weeks ago, he was eating dinner when he felt chest tightness and fainted. His wife called an ambulance; Llewellyn was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a mild heart attack. Having stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks, he was released and went home. However, home was a different place now, mainly because Llewellyn himself was different.

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During 2 weeks of mostly laying in bed at the hospital, Llewellyn lost much of his strength. His heart attack also weakened him. Getting in and out of bed became a challenge. Many activities of daily living became difficult as well - such as bathing, toileting, eating and reading.

Llewellyn has lost some mobility, and his risk of pressure ulcers has risen. At the same time, he is at risk of falling out of bed due to occasionally becoming disoriented. Llewellyn's wife became mentally and physically tired due to now having to care for Llewellyn, and now her health is at risk, too.

So, does Llewellyn need a new bed, and what kind of bed should it be?

A p903 Premium Hospital Bed for Home Care

Reasons to get a hospital bed

Hospital beds create a safe, empowering and comfortable environment. They enable a person to rest, recover, care for themselves and receive care at home. Unlike home beds available at furniture stores, a hospital bed offers greater support, pressure management, security and flexibility in positioning. There is no substitute for a hospital bed; once someone needs it, they should get it.

Bed types

  • Operation - hospital bed functions can include raising and lowering the head and/or the foot of the bed and adjusting the bed height. A bed could be manual, semi-electric (only the head and the foot controls are powered) or full electric (

    the head and the foot controls plus the bed height control are powered). We suggest always using a full electric bed, if possible.

  • Size and weight capacity - standard beds usually measure 36" x 80" and support up to 450 lbs. Bariatric beds could measure up to 48 inches wide and some could support up to 1000 lbs.
  • Additional functions - Trendelenburg and reverse Trendelenburg positions tilt the bed to lower or raise the head with respect to the feet, correspondingly. A high/low bed can be lowered to within 7-8 inches off the ground and raised all the way to the caregiver's waist height. A cardiac chair position elevates the patient from the waist up without requiring the patient to move very much; this helps patients recover from heart surgery and respiratory illnesses.

Miscellaneous features

  • Side rails help keep users from falling out of bed, while providing support as they move in and out of the bed. They can extend down the full length of the bed, or are available in half-length for less coverage.
  • A medical-grade mattress is just as important as the bed. Foam mattresses are the standard now, and memory foam is an improvement over regular foam. An air mattress can help prevent pressure ulcers even in clients who have little to no mobility.

An Alternating Pressure and Low Air Loss Mattress System

Environmental considerations

  • Home decor - standard hospital beds tend to look clinical, and premium hospital beds tend to "fit in" better with normal household ambiance. Many clients prefer home care to facility care precisely due to the familiar, welcoming environment oft heir own home; a hospital bed should not detract from that feeling.
  • Heat and humidity - given that we live in Bermuda, a mattress that provides good air flow is important, particularly during the hot summer months. Low air loss mattresses are particularly well suited for providing good air flow, as well as excellent pressure management. 

4 Best Hospital Beds For Home Use in 2024

Are you looking for the best hospital beds? Or where to buy hospital beds? Seniors and those with special needs may require something more specialized than a regular bed.

That’s where a hospital bed comes in. If you’re taking care of a sick, disabled, or aging family member, a hospital bed can make them more comfortable. It will also make it easier to give them the care they need.

That brings us to an important question: What is the best hospital bed for home use?

There are a variety of:

  • Features
  • Prices
  • Types
  • Sales

We can help you find one that suits all situations. While it’s been an option to use a hospital bed in the home for a long time, technology continues to innovate and there are more convenient and comfortable choices than ever. 

If you are in the market for electric hospital beds for home use, semi-electric hospital beds, or something else, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll help you make the best choice.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Hospital Bed

When purchasing a hospital bed for home use there are several key things to consider. Your main goal for bringing a hospital bed into your home is to increase levels of comfort and safety, but the wrong choice will go against those objectives. 

If you keep these four elements in mind, you’ll be able to find the best hospital bed for home use that’s perfect for your needs.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Hospital Bed

When purchasing a hospital bed for home use there are several key things to consider. Your main goal for bringing a hospital bed into your home is to increase levels of comfort and safety, but the wrong choice will go against those objectives. 

If you keep these four elements in mind, you’ll be able to find the best hospital bed for home use that’s perfect for your needs.

1. Adjustability
Having adequate adjustability is one of the main reasons to consider getting a hospital bed for home use. It’s essential to give caregivers the access they need and individuals the comfort they deserve. You want to make sure you find a bed that drops low enough so you can get in and out of it easily, and high enough that assistance can be provided without strain.

You’re going to find the most adjustability in a fully electric hospital bed. These are the most popular ones on the market, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding the right one for you.

2. Side Rails
Safety is an important feature that hospital beds provide, so finding one with adequate side rails is a must. Falls from the bed can be extremely dangerous and are especially common among seniors or individuals with special needs. A hospital bed in the home can be a great solution to this issue and provide peace of mind. 

3. Type of Mattress
When you’re shopping for a regular bed, the sizing and dimensions are all pretty straightforward. When it comes to hospital beds, that’s not always the case. Because each bed is designed to accommodate different needs, the type of mattress might not be the same across the board. 

If you require a specific type of mattress, such as a pressure-relieving mattress, then you’ll want to make sure that the bed frame you choose accommodates that option.

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4. Ease of Use
Ultimately, this is a purchase that’s supposed to make your life easier, not harder. You don’t want to invest in a hospital bed and bring it into your home only to have it be cumbersome to operate. Look for a bed that offers support and comfort, but also features streamlined controls to make things as simple and helpful as possible.

Types of Hospital Beds

Just like regular beds, you have lots of different options when it comes to hospital beds. Which one is right for you depends entirely on your situation and what you feel will best support rest and comfort. You can have as much or as little control over the bed adjustments as you’d like. Manufacturers offer everything from fully manual options to entirely electric ones. 

Here are the different types of hospital beds.

Fully Electric Hospital Bed
One of the best benefits of a fully electric hospital bed is that the patient can have control over their position to optimize comfort, and caregivers can easily help make adjustments. These beds adjust electronically and typically come with a remote, which makes operation seamless. If the remote isn’t working or reachable, there are buttons on the side of the bed for adjustments. 

This is a fantastic choice because of how easy it is to use. Anyone can operate a fully electric hospital bed. 

Semi-Electric Hospital Bed
If you prefer the option to manually control your hospital bed, you might enjoy a semi-electric hospital bed. These offer the convenience of electric control for certain tasks, but they still give you the option to utilize the convenience of manual operation in case the electronics or electricity source fails.

Manual Hospital Bed
The name speaks for itself on this one. This type of hospital bed doesn’t give you an electronic option but instead needs to be manually adjusted. The most common reason for opting for a manual hospital bed is that they’re the most budget-friendly. However, they require a lot of effort to adjust and can’t be used by those without the physical strength required to do so.

Bariatric Hospital Bed
A bariatric hospital bed supports heavier individuals. They’re fully electric, requiring no manual effort to make adjustments. In addition to supporting more weight than any other type of hospital bed, they also have wider mattresses to make the user as comfortable as possible. 

Bariatric hospital beds tend to be more expensive than other options, but do provide more access to care and comfort for certain patients. 

4 Best Hospital Beds for Home Use

Ultimately, the best hospital bed for you depends on your unique needs. There are a lot of options out there, but we’ll highlight four popular beds to help you make an informed decision.

1. EasyCare SE Hi-Low Homecare Bed

This bed is a great option for extended recovery at home. It’s super versatile, featuring an adjustable height range between 8.25 and 27 inches. It also features mobility options that make it even more comfortable and easier to use. You can configure it to roll-in-low, which maintains a safe height of 7 inches while in motion. You can also customize this bed for advanced positioning support (including Trendelenburg clinical positioning).

See product

2. MedPlus CompleteCare Homecare Bed

If you’re looking for a hospital bed that was specifically designed with home-care individuals in mind, this is the one for you. They thought of everything to make this a comfortable, safe, and easy experience. You can adjust this bed anywhere from 7 to 23 inches, which means it’s incredibly versatile and will suit a wide range of people. It’s also designed to not look like a hospital bed, which makes it perfect for use in the home.

See product

3. MedPlus Electric Hospital Bed Set

This is a sufficient, affordable option for a fully electric bed. It improves both the patient and caregiver experience. The adjustability is perfect for anyone with the need to improve blood circulation, reduce the chance of skin shearing, and more. It’s durable and easy to clean, which means it’ll hold up no matter what.

See product

4. MedPlus Semi-Electric Hospital Bed Set

If you’re in the market for a semi-electric bed, this is a fantastic choice. It’s versatile and incredibly lightweight, which can be a must in some households. This is another hospital bed that doesn’t have to look like a hospital bed, which some people might strongly prefer.

See product

Browse More Options and Find Your Perfect Fit at Med Mart

Looking for the perfect hospital bed is no easy task. There are many options to choose from, and when making such an important purchase, it’s important to have experts in your corner that you trust. That’s where Medmart comes in. 

We provide tools, resources, and assistance to seniors and caregivers alike. Our hospital beds are some of the best on the market, and our wide variety ensures that you’ll find one that works for you. Browse our website today to see our available beds.

 

More helpful guides:

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit medical bed manufacturer.

  • How to get insurance for your hospital bed
  • Medicare requirements for hospital bed