Hospital beds are designed so that you can provide a loved one with top-quality care. When a person is recovering from an injury or needs to spend a large amount of time in bed, your average bed will fall short of their needs. Home care beds include features which can accommodate a patient’s specific needs, keeping them comfortable and healthy.
Homecare medical beds are available in different styles, but you will notice that nearly all of the beds are adjustable. The ability to raise the head and the foot areas of a bed is essential to patient comfort and well being. By adjusting the bed, you can relieve pressure on the patient’s body, helping to reduce bed sores. The change of position also helps to improve circulation, and makes for a more comfortable option for reading, watching TV, and talking with friends and family.
Safety is paramount for anyone who is in bed for a long time, and home care beds are designed to maximize safety in your own home. They are available with bedrails for increased safety, and bedrails may be purchased separately. From safety release systems to nightlights which are built right into the beds themselves, medical home care beds are built with excellent attention to patient safety.
There are countless advantages to being able to care for a loved one at home, from financial savings to the morale boost that being in the comfort of your own home provides to a patient. Medical beds available in many different styles and designs suit your specific needs for home care. From long term beds to bariatric beds to adjustable beds, these home care beds provide your loved one with comfort, support, and safety.
Decide What You Need in a Bed
Before you start shopping for a homecare bed, make a list of the features that are important to your intended use. Consider the weight capacity that the bed should have, and think about what you will need in terms of the bed’s overall size. If buying an adjustable bed, do you want an entirely powered bed, or is a semi electric bed acceptable? Consider which bed height is ideal, and factor in any other specifications that you will need in a homecare bed.
Keep Safety In Mind
It’s important to make your homecare setting as safe as possible. When using a homecare bed, consider the following safety advice.
Keep the wheels of the bed locked at all times.
Unlock the wheels only if the bed needs to be moved. Once the bed is moved into place, lock the wheels again.
Put a bell and a telephone within reach of the bed.
These should be available so you can call for help when needed.
Keep the side rails up at all times except when you get in and out of bed.
You may need a footstool next to the bed. Use a night light if you need to get out of bed at night.
Put the hand control pad within easy reach to adjust positions.
Learn to use the hand control and practice moving the bed into different positions. Test the bed's hand and panel controls to be sure the bed is working correctly. You may be able to lock the positions so the bed cannot be adjusted.
Follow the specific manufacturer's instructions for using the bed.
Check for cracks and damage to the bed controls. Call the bed manufacturer or another professional if you smell burning or hear unusual sounds coming from the bed. Do not use the bed if there is a burning smell coming from it. Call if the bed controls are not working correctly to change positions of the bed.
When you adjust any part of the bed, it should move freely.
The bed should extend to its full length and adjust to any position. Do not place the hand control or power cords through the bed rails
