The Best Type of Hospital Bed for Home Use

What is a hospital bed?

For individuals recently discharged from the hospital due to injury or illness, a suitable hospital bed at home can greatly enhance their recovery and quality of life. Hospital beds for home use are specifically designed with features that prioritise safety and comfort, helping individuals regain mobility while returning to the familiar surroundings of their own homes. Additionally, hospital beds are fully adjustable, providing greater comfort and easing the tasks of caregivers or loved ones, making it easier for them to administer food, drink or medication. In today’s blog, we’ll explore the best type of hospital beds for home use and how they can better support a smooth transition from hospital to home care.

What are the benefits of having a hospital bed at home?

Hospital beds for home use are an ideal solution for individuals recovering from an injury or illness. Due to their many adjustable and variable features, they are the perfect solution for many. If you are returning home from the hospital, you may feel that a traditional static bed isn’t the right option but are wondering exactly what are the benefits of having a hospital bed at home.

Adjustable height and position

The best type of hospital beds for home use are fully electric beds. With an adjustable height and position, these beds make it easier for someone with limited mobility to get in or out of bed, sit upright, lie down and stay in bed for longer periods, whilst reducing pain and inflammation. One of the added benefits of a hospital bed with an adjustable height and position is that it allows the individual to raise their legs above the heart level. By raising your legs you can promote better circulation of oxygen and blood throughout the body, helping to reduce swelling and discomfort. An electric hospital bed will also allow you to sit up in bed with greater ease so you may relax, read or watch television. 

Improved accessibility

Another benefit of having a hospital bed for home use is the improved accessibility they provide, supporting people to come back to their homes. Hospital beds are particularly useful for wheelchair users. At the touch of a button you can lower or lift the bed to aid easy transfer to the wheelchair. This minimises the distance and reduces the physical effort required to transfer between chair and bed, lessening the risk of an injury or accident.

In conjunction with adjustable height and positions, side rails or grab bars provide additional support for individuals who need assistance with mobility. Grab bars make hospital beds more accessible than traditional beds and help stabilise a person when transitioning between their bed, a wheelchair or rise and recline chair. Side rails are particularly useful for adjusting body position independently and are especially beneficial for those with limited upper body strength, enabling them to reposition themselves with greater ease, without the need of a caregiver.

The best type of hospital beds for home use are ones that feature wheels. Wheels mean that the bed can be more easily transported and repositioned throughout different areas of the home. This can better accommodate the needs of an individual, such as moving the hospital bed to be closer to a bathroom, window or outlet. Additionally, a wheeled hospital bed allows an individual to be taken to different parts of their home. This reduces the reliance and need to get in and out of a wheelchair which typically causes pain and discomfort.

Enhanced sleep quality

Hospital beds for home use aren’t only useful for supporting an individual in their recovery through more comfortable sleep, but they also enhance the quality of sleep too and are particularly beneficial for those suffering with acid reflux, sleep apnea, respiratory issues or bedsores.

Adjusting the position of the hospital bed can reduce these symptoms through promoting better blood and oxygen circulation and ensuring easier breathing. Additionally, being able to move the position of the bed can help to alleviate pain on pressure points, as the bed and mattress conforms to the contours of the body. This helps to increase comfort levels and allows for deeper and longer uninterrupted sleep as a result.

Helpful for carers

Hospital beds are not only useful for an individual, but incredibly helpful for carers too. The adjustable height and position lessens the need for a carer to bend or stoop during daily tasks such as manual handling, dressing, repositioning or bathing and cleaning. As a result, a carer is less likely to be affected by aches and pains or symptoms of fatigue over time.

A hospital bed’s adjustable height and position is also helpful for carers who can lift and move the bed, improving accessibility when changing sheets and cleaning hard-to-reach areas. Hospital beds help to simplify a caregiver’s routine tasks and ensure a cleaner, organised environment, whilst improving hygiene standards and reducing the effort required for upkeep.

Different types of hospital beds

There are a variety of different hospital beds on the market that can be categorised in different ways based on use, function and design. Depending on the level of control and automation required by an individual, all hospital beds will come in three main types, manual, semi-electric and fully electric. Understanding the differences between these bed types will help in selecting the best type of hospital bed for home use.

Manual hospital beds

Manual hospital beds are the most basic option and are controlled using mechanical hand cranks. While these types of beds are the most affordable option, they aren’t ideal for frequent adjustments and are less ideal for caregivers who are required to use a lot of physical effort in adjusting the bed’s height and position. It is for this reason that manual hospital beds are the least favoured choice for someone’s recovery and are often seen as a temporary measure.

Semi-electric hospital beds

Semi-electric hospital beds feature both a hand crank and an electrical motor. Using the controls, the motor can adjust an individual’s head and foot positions, while a mechanical crank modifies the overall bed height. Semi-electric beds are great for people who want to make minor adjustments when sleeping, adding a degree of autonomy, however, they may still require the support of a caregiver to adjust the beds height to their comfort or needs. 

Fully electric hospital beds

Fully electric beds are the most advanced option and offer complete control over all bed functions. They’re great for individuals looking to change the height or position of the bed to their needs and it reduces the reliance on a caregiver too. Fully electric beds are most beneficial for people with limitations in their mobility as changes can be made with little to no effort. They are the best choice with comfort in mind, but as a result they are the most expensive option on the market.

What features should you be looking for?

When it comes to choosing the best type of hospital bed for home use, it’s important to consider what features you should be looking for and how these can positively benefit the needs of an individual most.

Safety features

Side rails and grab bars are important safety features, allowing someone getting in and out of their bed, to reposition themselves or to transfer between the bed and a wheelchair safely. If you’re looking for a hospital bed for home use, consider the addition of side rails or grab bars for increased support.

Additionally, the majority of hospital beds on the market come with safety features including a wheel lock. This is particularly important should a bed need to be moved frequently or if an individual repositions themselves in bed. The lock mechanism ensures the bed structure remains rigid and won’t budge, even under excessive movement and pressure.

Accessibility

A hospital bed increases accessibility by providing the necessary support and functionality that enables individuals living with mobility or health challenges to move home more easily. Its adjustable height and position features make it easier for individuals to get in and out of bed, reducing the risk of injury, while the addition of wheels means someone can access parts of their home without having to get up and walk, which can cause discomfort. Additionally, the hospital bed can be adapted to accommodate medical needs, creating a more comfortable and safer environment for recovery, which may not be possible with a standard bed.

Ease of use

Whether or not the hospital bed will be operated by a caregiver, it’s also important to consider the beds ease of use.Think about whether the remote control is easy to access for both someone using the bed and a caregiver outside of the bed. Be sure to take a look at buttons to see whether they are clearly labeled and easy to understand. Additionally, test the buttons to be sure the bed operates as you would expect.

Appearance

As much as the technical aspects of a hospital bed are necessary to look at, it’s also worth considering the appearance of the bed too. Traditionally, hospital beds served a function that meant they looked more medical, as opposed to being aesthetically pleasing. However hospital beds for home use are designed with appearance in mind and many now come in a variety of different colours or styles to suit an individual’s tastes and the style of their home.

Summary

Hospital beds for home use are considered by many because they offer a range of features that improve comfort, safety and care for individuals who are returning home to recover or have medical needs. They allow an individual to raise or lower their head, torso and legs and feet, aiding mobility and reducing pressure and discomfort on the body. They improve accessibility, not only between different furniture items but also throughout their home. They’re a great option in assisting with better quality sleep, and they also ensure a caregivers tasks can be effectively performed, contributing to improved care quality and overall health.

Finding the right hospital bed for home use doesn’t have to be an extensive task. With these considerations in mind, you’ll be able to find the best hospital beds for home use and one that suits yours or your loved ones needs.