Hospital Beds at Home: Factors to Consider

Hospital Beds at Home: Factors to Consider What is a Hospital Bed at Home? A hospital bed is a specially designed bed for hospitalized patients who are bed-ridden and need round-the-clock care after an injury, surgery or chronic illness. A hospital bed at home is designed to meet the needs of patients who are recovering and must spend a lot of time in bed. They are flexible, and their adjustability makes them more appropriate for providing comfortable support than a standard bed, enabling caregivers to deliver quality care.

Hospital Beds at Home

Types of Hospital Beds There are many types of hospital beds available, but what type of bed a patient needs depends on their requirements. However, three types of beds are mostly used, and they are:

Manual Bed: Manual hospital beds are very common and are controlled by hands. It does not have any electric connections or technology. To change the level or height of the bed, a caregiver needs to change the position of the crank using their hands.

Semi-Electronic Bed: A semi-electronic bed is linked to a motor at the bottom of the bed that requires an electric connection to operate. Without electricity, it transforms into a manual bed. These beds are slightly more advanced than manual beds, but the height cannot be changed automatically. Using a remote or controller, the patient can change the position of their head and feet. But to change the height of the bed, a caregiver needs to adjust it manually.

Full-Electronic Bed: A full-electric bed is the most advanced bed among all kinds of beds. These beds are fully electric and come with a remote control that allows the patient to change the position of the head and feet and the height level with a single click.

It is essential to consult your doctor about specific needs and recommendations before renting or purchasing hospital beds at home.

The Benefits of Having a Hospital Bed at Home

A hospital bed at home can help promote proper rest and faster recovery. Here are some reasons why a hospital bed is essential at home:

Benefits of Hospital Beds at Home

Improved Incontinence Support: 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. Adjustable hospital beds have many sections, height-adjustable features, and positioning options that greatly contribute to the user’s experience.

Helps Avoid Ulcers: They provide repositioning options that offer comfortable postural support and help decrease the risk of bedsores and pressure ulcers.

Maintains Patient Safety: They are equipped with safety features like side rails or mattresses with bolsters that can minimize the chance of falling out of bed.

Maintains Cleanliness and Hygiene of the Patient The cleanliness and hygiene of the patient is a top priority and therefore must be always given attention. Patient beds have vinyl covers that are durable, waterproof, and washable. This makes it easy for the caregivers to clean the beds and maintain hygiene if the patient happens to cause stains or any other forms of splatters or spots on the hospital bed cover.

Things to Consider when Choosing a Hospital Bed at Home. Hospital beds have special features both for the patient’s comfort and for the convenience of health care workers and are available in a broad range of styles, patterns, and sizes. Before choosing patient beds, it’s important to consider their characteristics to ensure they meet the patient’s safety and demands.

Features of Hospital Beds at Home

Consider these factors before buying or renting a hospital bed at home: Short-Term vs Long-Term Patients need to first consider whether they need the hospital bed for short-term or long-term use. Suppose a patient is bedridden for an extended time or spends more than 15 hours a day in bed. A full-electric home hospital bed is best suited and provides long-term comfort and durability. On the other hand, semi-electric and manual beds are more suitable for short-term use.

<u>Mobility of Patient</u> 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 and who cannot reposition themselves without assistance. At the same time, a manually adjusted bed would be more cost-effective for a patient who does not have mobility issues.

<u>Strength of Caregiver</u> A caregiver’s strength and stamina should be considered before deciding which home hospital bed is best. An electric bed can help take the most strain off a caregiver, as they have their own self-positioning features.

<u>Size and Weight of the Patient</u> When choosing a hospital bed for a patient, weight capacity is one of the essential factors to keep in mind. Patient 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.

<u>Strengthening Features</u> Push-button controls of adjustable hospital beds allow patients and caregivers to modify the bed frame, head, and foot as per their convenience. In semi-electric hospital beds’, the head and feet can be raised and lowered by pressing a button on the control panel.

Options for a Side Rail and a Grab Bar The side rails on a hospital bed frame keep patients from falling out of their beds, provide support during repositioning, and help the patient transfer into or out of bed.

Apollo Homecare:

A hospital bed can be a difficult choice to make. To make the right choice, it is important to consider the patient’s needs, available bed accessories, affordability, the bed’s safety, and positioning features. Apollo Homecare provides hospital beds for rent and purchase, allowing the patients to choose based on their requirements.