Why Would you Need a hospital bed at Home?

Hospital beds are not just for nursing homes and hospitals anymore.  They can be a valuable tool to help keep loved ones at home during periods of recovery or illness.  

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Sleek designs and various styles of head and footboards look like bedroom furniture.  Modern hospital beds help enable caregivers and loved ones to maintain safety, comfort and independence at home. 

Here are 5 benefits of having a hospital bed at home for you and your loved one:

1. Easier repositioning for loved ones

Frequent repositioning in bed helps reduce the joint pain and stiffness that comes with laying still for long periods of time. 

Shifting body weight helps prevent bed sores from forming, especially on the heels and buttocks. 

Adjustable head and foot sections allow for positions that are not easily possible with wedges or pillows. Side rails help prevent falling out of bed during repositioning as well.  

2. Adjustable head and foot of the bed

Shortness of breath can be eased by sleeping with the head of the bed elevated.  Electric bed controls allow loved ones to find the most comfortable position and make adjustments as needed.  

The head of the bed can easily be elevated for reading, visiting and eating and lowered for sleep.  

Staying slightly upright in bed is important for loved ones with difficulty swallowing to help prevent inhaling food or liquids into the lungs.  

The head of the bed can also be raised slowly before getting up to prevent dizziness or fainting.

 Elevating the foot of the bed relieves leg swelling and helps prevent loved ones from sliding down when the head of the bed is raised. 

3. Easier getting in and out of bed

Electric hospital bed frames can be raised and lowered as needed to make it easier for loved ones to get in and out of bed. 

The head of the bed can be elevated to reduce the effort needed to sit at the side of the bed.  The bed frame height can be adjusted as needed for sitting and standing.  

This is especially important during recovery after hip surgery. Some hospital beds can be lowered so that the bed frame is almost on the floor.  A foam mat can be placed on the floor next to the bed to prevent injury if a loved one rolls out of bed. 

4. Protection for caregivers

It is essential for caregivers to protect themselves from back injuries as they care for loved ones. 

Hospital bed frame heights can be adjusted to appropriate working heights, allowing caregivers to use safe lifting and transferring techniques.  

Loved ones can use side rails and grab bars to assist with repositioning to minimize the effort needed by caregivers. 

Overbed tables can be used with hospital beds to help loved ones reach for items and feed themselves.  Locking swivel casters enable caregivers to easily move hospital beds to make room for wheelchairs, walkers and commodes. 

5. Helpful accessories

Hospital bed designs allow use of equipment that cannot be attached to regular beds.  A wide variety of side rail designs are available to help loved ones reposition in bed.  

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Side rails and grab bars make it easier for loved ones to get in and out of bed safely.  Seizure pads can be placed inside side rails to prevent injury.  Trapeze bars can be attached to the headboard and air mattress pumps can be attached to the footboard.  

Final thoughts

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.

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Whereas a normal bed is permanently flat, a hospital bed allows the patient or their caregiver to adjust the head and foot sections independently to come to a semi-seated position or raise the legs or knees. This is an important feature for patients who will be spending a significant amount of time in bed.

• Foot section. Being able to raise the lower body is a great advantage for patients with a foot or knee injury or a condition that causes swelling in the feet because it encourages blood flow back to the heart.

• Head section. The ability to raise the head and back to a semi-sitting position is helpful when the patient wants to watch TV or spend time with visitors. The upper panel can then be lowered again, allowing the patient to sleep comfortably.

Improved Comfort

Hospital beds, or adjustable medical beds, are made with heavy use in mind. For that reason, the typical hospital bed mattress is made from therapeutic foam that's both comfortable and strong and is covered in a thick, easy-clean vinyl outer layer. 

To cushion the patient’s pressure points and prevent or treat bed sores, gel, foam, water, and reactive-air overlays are often used on top of the mattress. The head and foot sections of the home hospital bed can also be adjusted to change the patient's position, maximize comfort, and encourage circulation.

Easier Maneuvering and Transfers

Because hospital beds can be raised and lowered vertically, they make it much easier for patients to transfer to a power wheelchair or mobility aid for walking compared to regular beds. This function also makes it easier to transfer the patient from one surface to another using a sit-to-stand lift or a regular patient lift.

Patients with good upper body strength can use the overhead trapeze bar that comes with many hospital beds to help them change positions and go from sitting to standing. For the caregiver, the adjustable height that is a feature of many hospital beds can help to prevent back injuries associated with bending over for long periods of time.

Disadvantages of Hospital Beds

Single Occupancy 

While two people can sleep in a regular bed, hospital beds are made to be used by one patient at a time. In a hospital setting, this is ideal because it gives nurses full access to each patient. However, in a home setting, couples may want to sleep together. 

If the patient will only need the hospital bed temporarily while recovering from an illness or surgery, sleeping alone may not be a huge issue and could be the best way to keep the patient safe. For long-term use, consider two hospital beds pushed together (remember to lock the wheels) or an adjustable split-king medical bed.

Aesthetically Limited

Because of their utilitarian design, hospital beds typically come in a much smaller range of designs compared to ordinary beds—particularly as far as the headboard, footboard, and bed railing are concerned. If you're renting a hospital bed, you will have an even more limited choice of designs from which to choose. Learn the 7 most important factors when renting a hospital bed.

The good news is that—as hospital beds become more popular for home use—models are now available that look more like traditional beds and can be made to fit your existing decor. If you are looking to buy a hospital bed for long-term use, ask about the options available.

Heavier Construction

Hospital beds tend to be heavier than regular beds because of the strong frame, electric circuitry, hinges, rails, and head and footboards. Bariatric beds, in particular, weigh a lot more than regular beds thanks to their sturdy construction and extra-large bariatric mattresses. To make them easier to move, hospital beds usually come with wheels or can be broken apart, so you should never have to lift the entire bed.

If you or a loved one requires a hospital bed, consider putting the bed on the ground floor of the home in a room that's easy for the patient and others to access. When renting or purchasing the bed, it's also well worth having it delivered. Don't risk injuring yourself.

Requires a Power Outlet

Semi-electric hospital beds and full-electric beds—such as the ones rented and sold at our Denver, Colorado showroom—need to be plugged into a power outlet to power the motor that adjusts the bed. The original manual hospital beds didn't require powering because they were adjusted via a hand crank. 

While a manual bed might be too cumbersome for a caregiver who is physically weak, semi-electric beds offer a good compromise—the convenience of an electric bed with or without a hand crank to change the vertical height.

Hospital Beds Are an Excellent Solution for People with Limited Mobility

When you weigh all factors, hospital beds offer more advantages than disadvantages for a patient who needs additional comfort, safety, and assistance. The few disadvantages that can come with hospital beds (such as separate sleeping, aesthetics, weight, and a power source) are easy to work around and shouldn't be a problem for most. 

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