What is a hospital bed at home?
A hospital bed at home has features that cater to the needs of people recovering from an injury or illness and bed-ridden patients who must spend a lot of time in bed. Hospital beds are flexible, and their adjustability makes them more appropriate for providing comfortable support than a standard bed, enabling caregivers to deliver quality care.
Why do we need a hospital bed at home?
A hospital bed at home can be helpful to promote proper rest and faster recovery. We need a hospital bed at home for the following features:
- The knee and head adjustability of hospital beds can provide improved incontinence support. They also have a height adjustability feature.
- Easy sanitization can help build a healthy environment.
- They provide repositioning options that offer comfortable postural support and help decrease the risk of bedsores and pressure ulcers.
- They are equipped with safety features like side rails or mattresses with bolsters that can minimize the chance of falling out of bed.
Types of Hospital Beds at Home
Hospital beds are usually of three types: manual, full-electric, and semi-electric.
Manual Hospital Beds
Manual hospital beds at home have fewer features than semi or full-electric options and are the least expensive models available. A manual hospital bed can be a better choice when there is very little need for frequent adjustments because manual beds need caregivers to make manual adjustments for positioning.
Semi-Electric Hospital Beds
A semi-electric hospital bed is suitable for patients who do not have major mobility or balance issues. This bed style uses both manual and electric features and adjustments options. The head and foot sections are adjusted electrically, while the height adjustment needs manual assistance.
Full Electric Hospital Beds
In a full-electric hospital bed, the head, feet, and height adjustments can be made with a push of a button. They also have a distinctive feature that can lock the bed in a position so the patient cannot accidentally move it into a dangerous position. This helps decrease the patient’s dependency on caregivers’ assistance and increases confidence and independence.
Features to Consider Before Purchasing Hospital Beds at Home
Temporary vs Permanent
Suppose a patient is bed-ridden for an extended amount of time or spends more than 15 hours a day in bed. A full-electric home hospital bed provides long-term comfort and durability while minimizing physical stress on caregivers. On the other hand, semi-electric and manual beds require more effort and do not provide as much independence for patients. The only thing is they cost less and can be more suitable for short-term use.
Mobility of Patient
Patient mobility significantly impacts the kind of home hospital bed the user has chosen. A highly adjustable bed is best for unsteady patients who have balance issues. Patients who cannot reposition themselves without assistance and cannot safely get in and out of bed without the height being adjusted are at risk of falling while transferring in and out of bed. Whereas for a patient who does not have mobility issues, a manually adjusted bed would be more economical.
Strength of Caregiver
A caregiver’s strength and stamina should be considered when deciding which home hospital bed is best. An electric bed can help take the most strain off a caregiver as they have their self-positioning features.
Size of the Patient
Hospital beds at home come in different shapes to accommodate all age groups. For example, a bariatric bed is wider than a standard bed and is more comfortable for heavier users. At the same time, young patients and infants will be safer and more comfortable in a child-sized bed. Beds can also be ordered and designed to accommodate exceptionally tall patients.
Positioning
For bed-ridden patients who spend most of their time in bed, especially with mobility challenges, a hospital bed’s positioning features can largely impact comfort and quality of sleep. Hospital beds have many sections, height adjustability features, and positioning options that greatly contribute to the user’s experience.
Conclusion
Whether recovering from an injury or adjusting to mobility limitations, a patient can get improved health outcomes, a positive impact on quality of life, and increased independence with the help of medical equipment for rent such as hospital beds, wheelchairs, cardiac monitors, DVT stockings, etc.
