Can You Have Bed Rails for Adjustable Beds?

Bed rails are widely used to reduce any risks of falls and aid those who may struggle to get in and out of bed comfortably. They can also help to reposition you into a more secure position if you’re somebody who has limited mobility. If you’re looking for bed rails for your adjustable bed, it’s important to purchase a design that can adapt to your independent living needs or mobility, without affecting the adjustable bed structure itself. In this article we will discuss the pros and cons of bed rails and address the question ‘Can you have bed rails for adjustable beds?’.

Different types of bed rails for adjustable beds

There are different types of bed rails for adjustable beds, which may come with support legs or without. The two main types are adjustable bed rails and hospital bed rails. Although both types of bed rails serve the same purpose to prevent people from falling out of bed, hospital bed rails are usually secured to the beds frame and not easily removable once installed. However, an adjustable bed rail is treated like a portable bed rail and can be adjusted to fit a variety of bed styles. 

Hospital Bed Rail

Pros and cons of bed rails for adjustable beds

There are a fair few pros and cons of bed rails for adjustable beds. Listed below, we will cover the main advantages of bed rails and how they can benefit you in regards to safety and security, mobility assistance and regaining your confidence and independence back. 

Safety and security

One of the pros for having bed rails is that it can provide a physical barrier that can help you prevent accidental falls from the bed, especially for those who are elderly, have mobility issues, or are recovering from an injury. This provides security for the individual and can reduce the risk of injuries during sleep.

Mobility assistance

Another pro for having bed rails is that they can act and assist as grab bars. This makes it easier for individuals to move in and out of bed and support those who require help with sitting up, repositioning themselves, or transferring onto a wheelchair/walker.

Regaining confidence and independence

Lastly, bed rails allow you to maintain a level of independence by providing you with stability and support in getting in and out of bed. This will help you regain your confidence and independence without relying heavily on others to assist you.

Cons of bed rails for adjustable beds

The few cons of bed rails for adjustable beds will give you a little more detail on the disadvantages some may face . This will cover the challenges of space limitations, getting trapped and also the difficulties of even making your bed.

Entrapment

One of the cons of having bed rails may be the potential of getting stuck between the bed rail and mattress. This is especially a risk for individuals with physical and cognitive limitations. The importance of the design and installation is important to ensure there is no risk of this. 

Challenges for bed making

Another con may be that those with limited mobility may struggle to make the bed, whilst the rails may obstruct access to certain areas of the bed. This can be exhausting for the individual who may already be dealing with challenges already.

Space limitations

Lastly, bed rails may limit space and restrict your movement even more. This can also be unpleasant for those who already have limited bedroom space and would benefit from having a more open and spacious setting.

Safety considerations for bed rails on adjustable beds

To answer the question ‘Can you have bed rails for adjustable beds?’, it’s clear that the answer for this leads more towards a yes. However, it’s also important to take into account the cons of bed rails and the concerns that there may be surrounding safety. This however, all heavily depends on the individual's specific needs and suitability. Safety should always be at the forefront of making a decision about purchasing a bed rail. Ensuring that it’s installed correctly, height and length, has a safety locking mechanism, and is easy to use for those who need it to be easily accessible is all things you need to foresee before deciding to buy.

Alternatives to bed rails for adjustable beds

Although bed rails are extremely helpful for most individuals, there are also some alternatives to using them. This may include the use of side wedges, bed alarms and roll guards. 

Overall, bed rails on adjustable beds can help those with mobility limitations in a number of positive ways. The best way in finding out if it’s suitable to your needs, is to speak to a professional who can offer you valuable guidance to suit your needs. If you’re not sure where to start, our Oak Tree professionals are trained to demonstrate how to get the most out of your adjustable bed and always happy to assist with advice and support for your mobility needs. 

If you have any questions about bed rails, please call our friendly team on:

0808 304 1921