There is a wide range of electric hospital beds for home care available nowadays - many different models, sizes and with different features to choose from.
Electric hospital beds for home care are designed to allow a person to recover, heal, rest and and to receive care in the home.
See below main points to take into account when choosing the right electric hospital bed:
1. Style:- Floorline/ Floor Level Beds -> Highly recommended for falls prevention.
- ".. difference between falling – or rolling – out of bed. " (Human Care)
- Patients who are at risk of falling are not protected from the impact of a fall if the bed only descends from a lower almost to floor height.
- Provide an extra care factor for those who may be at risk for falling out of bed, and a safe working height for nurses and carers when raised.
- Portable
- Easily dismantled and easier to install
- Bariatric
- Larger sleep surface
- Accommodates larger and heavier users
- Companion Bed
- ICare option - Companion Bed is completely stationary, with no moving parts at all and allows a partner or parent to sleep along side any Icare adjustable bed.
2. Safe Work Load:
- It is important to find and electric bed that can hold the user's weight.
3. Bed Size:
- Which size will be required? Single? Long Single (I-Care Range)? Kind Single? Long Single (I-Care Range)? Queen?
4. Rails:
- Full Length
- Will the person require rails protectors? -> Highly recommended for confused patients who may hurt themselves by hitting the bed rails or getting arms, legs, head, etc., stuck in the rails.
- Under the mattress
5. Headboards:
- Headboard is optional for some bed models.
- Different styles available
6. Mattress:
- Types: Static, Dynamic and Alternating Air (Does it require an underlay mattress?)
- Risk: Low Risk, Low to Medium Risk, Medium Risk, Medium to High Risk, High Risk to Very High Risk, Very High Risk
- Safe Work Load
- Sizing: Single? Long Single (ICare Range)? Kind Single? Long Single (ICare Range)? Queen?
- Overlay: Sheepskin? Memory Foam Topper? Eggshell Topper? Natural Latex Topper? Air overlay? Gel Overlay?
7. Incontinence:
- Waterproof and absorbent protection
- Mattress Protector
8. How mobile is the user?
- Wonder Sheets (Highly recommended for manual handling)
- Gooseneck/ Self Help Pole (It can be used to assist a person to sit up, lay down and re-position themselves in bed.)
- Bed stick (Designed to enable the user to pull themselves upright when in bed)
- Turn yourself sheet / Turn yourself pad (Design to help people with limited strength when turning in bed.)
9. Any other accessory required?
- Sleep positioning system (Designed to provide different levels of support and prevent the child or the adult from getting stuck in harmful positions during the night.)
- IV Pole
- Bolster
- Bed Cradle (Designed to fit under the mattress to form a support to keep bedclothes clear of the feet and legs.)
10. Any other features required?
- Gap Protection - users prone to seizures or nocturnal movements, gap protection is an important safety concern.
Sources:
Human Care - Visited 05/04/2019
How to choose a Hospital Bed for home care - Visited 05/04/2019