Choosing A Special Care Bed

An adjustable bed can help people with reduced mobility and health problems.

This article endeavours to provide helpful information about special beds that are available to assist people with health and mobility issues, and their carers. These issues may include (but are not restricted to) getting into and out of bed, sitting up, turning over, and being comfortable in bed.

Because we spend at least a third of our lives in bed it is very important we makes ourselves as comfortable in bed as possible. For those among us who have resticted mobility or are completely immobilised, the percentage of time spent in bed will be much higher making it vital that ease of movement, comfort, and safety are considered when selecting a bed. The proper choice will ensure comfort and ease of movement in or out of bed.

Our well being relies on us getting adequate rest and good sleeping patterns and bodily comfort are essential to this. For mobility restricted people this state of well being will determine their level of self reliance as well as their ability to act and order their lives with some measure of independence.

We are assuming you have a need for a special type of bed due to health or mobility problems and that you have sought help and advice from health professionals before embarking on your discovery process. Although the use of special equipment can often be a solution, we suggest you seek medical advice firstly, because you may be able to change the way you do things without the use of special equipment.

Having determined you do need a special bed to resolve your problems, you need to decide whether to buy or rent. If your condition is a long term one and you can afford the high capital cost of such a bed, then buying will probably be the best option. If for a shorter term, or you cannot afford the initial outlay, then renting the equipment will probably be best.

Even if you intend to purchase, it's a good idea to rent for a short time to ensure your choice is the correct one before spending a large amount. Your special bed may not be easy to resell, and you will probably lose money in the sale, in the event you buy and then decide it's not really suitable. With a rental bed you can send it back at the end of the rental period if it's not right for you, and choose another to try.

Renting also offers the advantage you can keep up with new improvements as they happen, and when your use for the equipment is ended, you simply send it back without further cost or the worry of disposal.

Special feature beds for people with health and mobility problems are called adjustable beds. They are also known as variable posture beds and (more loosely) as hospital beds, with two or more sections under the mattress that can hinge to form various profiles. The action of raising and lowering the base sections is known as profiling. They can be electrically or manually operated, or a mixture of both.

They are generally in single bed size but can often be fixed together to form a double bed, each (if necessary) having different functions. One side of the joined beds can also remain as a standard bed. In such a configuration, it is important the joined beds be easily separated so the carer can access from either side and that their is sufficient space around and under the bed for easy movement of other equipment such as bed cradles or a portable hoist.

A two section bed is sit up only, with the ability to raise the back rest into an inclined position for sitting up or elevating the head. Where the angle of the back rest is enough it can create a problem in that the person will slip down the bed. It is often of value to use a device of some sort at the foot of the bed to prevent slippage. A two section bed is more commonly used for shorter term use when mobility is not severely restricted.

Three section adjustable beds have an additional raise/lower knee break which raises the knees and can prevent slipping down in the bed. The leg section may also be raised in some models. A better option is the four section bed, where the persons' bottom is supported by its own section while the knee break is raised, providing the most stable position for the user.

Electric adjustable beds have a hand held controller and, although driven by several motors, are usually very quiet to silent in operation. They can be operated solely by the carer where this is necessary for the person's safety, or where user independence is important, by the person in bed. It is especially useful to be able to alter the bed height to make it easier getting on or off the bed where leg/arm strength is an issue. The hand held control unit is light and as easy to use as pushing a button.

Manually operated adjustable beds are usually controlled by gas assisted foot pedals, or a winding or ratchet system. Many of these mechanisms are hard to use, jerky and uneven in use, and require effort and bending on the part of the carer. They are rarely suitable for adjustment by the bed user.

Adjustable bed mattresses are usually foam or latex,and in the case of foam, should have a section division for greater user comfort. Specially manufactured sprung wire mattresses may also be used, but these need to be researched to ensure they will be suitable for the type of profiles that may be employed.

When the backrest is semi-reclined, pulling on a lifting pole (gooseneck) the user may be enabled to roll onto one side or the other independently to relieve buttock pressure. The lifting pole will also allow the user to take up some of their weight and assist them to manoeuvre to the bed edge making it easier to stand.

Where continuous long term bed occupancy is necessary the prevention and treatment of bedsores (pressure ulcers) is critical. To this end a pressure mattress or overlay may be used in conjunction with or as an alternative to a standard mattress. The user can be repositioned by changing the bed profile which can affect weight distribution, thereby helping prevent the forming of pressure sores.

Variation in bed height is also a function in most adjustable beds. Other than making getting into and out of bed easier, it is also of value for safety reasons where the bed can be lowered to its minumum height for the user in danger of falling out of bed. Some beds can be lowered to as little as 25cm (approx 9") off the floor. Carers can raise these beds without needing stoop and bend when assisting people to turn, or to make the bed or adjust bedding.

The bed position in the room is important to consider as there should be no wall mounted obstruction preventing vertical movement of the bed or allowing anything be trapped underneath the bed when lowered as few adjustable height beds have an automatic stop facility.

Modern adjustable beds are nicely finished, many with woodgrain panelling in head and foot boards, and imminently suited to both home care and nursing home use. Some models can be broken down into separate parts for ease of storage and transport.

Although not truly an adjustable bed, chair beds can also be considered viable in many instances. A chair bed can be used either as a bed or chair and saves the user having to transfer from chair to bed or vice versa if they need to change position or for sleeping. There are also versions of very adjustable beds which can be electrically profiled so that the person is able to achieve a sitting position. Others are primarily chairs that can be reclined fully so that the person can lie horizontally. Another version of a chair bed is used for pressure care.