10 Tips For Buying A Hospital Bed

Purchasing a hospital bed to use at home, either for someone you are caring for or yourself can seem overwhelming. However, once you know what you should be looking for, you can carry it out effectively and easily.  The following are 10 tips for buying a hospital bed:

1.  Make a list of the features you must have along with extras you desire

A majority of hospital beds for home use are height adjustable, electric and wooden, and also will usually come with a profiling mattress platform.  After that, there will be a wide range of options that are available as well.  The hospital bed can be equipped with a low height range, tilt/Trendelenburg feature, in various wood colors or side rails.  Make sure to have a list of your must-have features (e.g. height adjustment, side rails) as well as bonus features (e.g. low height range, dark wood color).  That will help you be clear about what you are looking for when shopping for a hospital bed. 

Potential features you might want to have on your list:

Fully-enclosed wooden foot and headboard
Air mattress can be accommodated
Customizable wood colors
Trendelenburg/tilt
Electrically operated via remote handset
Profiling mattress platform
Side rails
Height adjustment

2.  Make sure it is a profiling mattress platform

A majority of hospital beds for the home come with a profiling function.  It includes an adjustable mattress platform (which is the base for the mattress to sit on top of) that profiles so that the user can sit up in bed, and it also raises their legs and knees.  There is a head or backrest with a profiling mattress platform along with a leg raiser and knee break that is electrically operated through the use of a remote handset.  This helps the caregiver in addition to the users because it allows them to get the user positioned to easily nurse the person.    

3.  Purchase an electric hospital bed that has a good height range

A bed's height range is determined by measuring the mattress platform's distance to the floor with the bed at its highest position and lowest position. So if a bed can be lowered down to 40 cm away from the floor and also raised up to 80 cm away from the floor then its height range is 40-80cm.  Usually, a good height range for a standard-height bed is about 40cm-80cm.

4.  If the user has a tendency to fall out of bed, consider getting a low bed

A low hospital bed is quite similar to a regular standard-height style, but it just has the added ability to be lowered a lot closer to the floor.  A low bed can typically be lowered to about 20-25cm off of the floor. The short distance helps to reduce injury and impact from a fall, which makes them a very good choice for a user who has a tendency to fall out of bed.  In care homes, low beds are becoming more and more popular as an alternative to side rails, and they are very effective for home use as well.

5. Trendelenburg positions can be a useful extra to have

This position refers to when a bid is tilted in a backward position with the user laid flat out on their back and their feet are raised higher than their head.  In 1881 the Trendelenburg was created to improve the pelvic organs surgical exposure and is used today still for various medical conditions.  The Anti-Trendelenburg is the opposite Trendelenburg position.  That position is where a bed tilts forward to keep the feet lower than the person's head.  Anti-Trendelenburg can provide added comfort, and allow the user to sit in a nearly seated position when there is a fully profiled mattress platform. 

6. High quality is a top priority

Purchasing a hospital bed is an important ask and frequently a "one-off" investment, which means you definitely don't want it to be a poor quality product that gives out after a few years of use.  When you are shopping online, be sure to check out the quality of the hospital bed before checking the price. Select a bed that has at least a 2-year warranty, and 3 years ideally.  Make sure that labor costs are included by the supplier in addition to parts as part of the warranty.  The right hospital bed for you is one that is high-quality and has a good warranty from a reputable supplier.

7.  Design should be the determining factor

One major concern that numerous people have when purchasing a hospital bed for home care is whether or not medical equipment such as this is going to look unwelcoming and cold inside of their home.  Although many hospital beds have an uninviting and cold appearance, some manufacturers do take great pride in producing beds with nice designs.  Typically a designer bed will be more expensive, so if you are on a tight budget, choose a bed with custom wood colors that will blend the hospital bed in with your existing furniture.  Purchase attractive bedding, cushions, and bed throws for the hospital bed to ensure that the room looks warm and welcoming.

8.  Carefully choose your supplier  

Purchasing a hospital bed for your home shouldn't be done casually.  You will want to ensure you get the maximum from your purchase.  So that is why you need to choose a reputable supplier that will provide you with the service that you need.  Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare Equipment has a good reputation. This is almost as important as the actual hospital bed.  Select a supplier that provides great delivery and installation services.  Also, ask if they have a good warranty backing their hospital beds.  Find out what aftercare services the supplier offers and see if they have any reviews and testimonials that you can check out.

9.  Ideally purchasing your mattress and bed from the same supplier

If the mattress will be purchased at the same time as the bed, try to find a supplier who you can buy both of them from. That way, you won't have any confusion between products from two different suppliers in case anything goes wrong (for example, complications could arise if a fault with the hospital bed were to damage the mattress).  Make sure there is a warranty on the mattress and that it appears to be of high quality.  Also, make sure that the supplier is able to provide you with the information you need regarding what pressure the mattress should be at in order to suit the needs of the user.

10. Make sure you understand all that is involved in the hospital bed's installation

After you have decided on a supplier and bed, find out what will need to be done in order to get the hospital bed to your house and get it operational.  The first thing you need to do is decide whether you will have professionals install the bed or you will do it yourself.  If you would like to have the bed installed for you, find a supplier that provides professional installation.  If you prefer doing it on your own, ask the supplier whatever questions you have about what is involved in the installation process.  Make sure the bed comes with installation instructions and a detailed instruction manual.

This is a guest blog entry.