Hospital Beds Explained
Hospital beds, often referred to as profiling care beds or nursing beds, are designed to facilitate care, improve comfort and make life easier. If you or a loved one requires a hospital bed, this could be due to an existing medical condition or problems with mobility. These types of beds are different to your average bed, with specially designed features for care and comfort. These include:
- Height adjustment – where the whole bed raises and lowers down
- Backrest adjustment – helps the user to sit up properly without needing to prop with pillows
- Leg rest adjustment – allows the user to elevate their legs easily
Depending on your care needs and requirements will determine the best hospital bed for your home. In this article, we will explore the importance of future-proofing your choice of hospital bed, so it caters to current and future care needs.
At Opera Beds, we help guide you or a loved one to the right solution through a needs-based consultation. If you’d prefer to be guided by an expert, get in touch today.
The importance of choosing the right hospital bed
Investing in a hospital bed for home is worthwhile if you are looking to regain your comfort and regain your independence. However, it’s key to understand your current and future care needs.
This is because a hospital bed is a long-term investment, and it needs to cater to both your current and future care needs. For instance, your current medical condition may require a bed with specific features, but in the future, you may need additional features to cater to your changing needs.
Therefore, by understanding your needs from the offset, you can make an informed decision when selecting a hospital bed that will serve you or your loved one for years to come. This will not only ensure that you get the most out of your investment, but it will also help to improve your comfort, independence, and overall quality of life.
The Different Types of Hospital Beds
Hospital beds are different to your average bed and are specially designed to facilitate care, comfort and make life easier.
There are different types of hospital beds available in the market, and each one caters to specific care needs. Some of the common types of hospital beds include:
1. Standard hospital beds: These are basic models that come with adjustable features like height, backrest and leg rest adjustments. These are suitable for individuals who require minimal assistance and have no significant mobility issues.
2. Low hospital beds: These beds are closer to the ground and are suitable for individuals who are at risk of falling from a higher bed. They are also easier to transfer to and from a wheelchair.
3. Floor hospital beds: These provide an ultra-safe sleeping height which reduces the risk of injury from bed falls and makes it easier to swing your legs into bed. You may wish to consider a floor bed if you or a loved one have a medical condition that makes it difficult to get in/out or at risk of falling out of bed.
4. Bariatric hospital beds: These are designed for individuals who are overweight or obese and require extra support. They come with a higher weight capacity and wider sleeping surface.
5. Trendelenburg hospital beds: These beds can tilt the user's body into a downward position, with the head of the bed lower than the feet. They are commonly used in surgical settings but can also be beneficial for individuals with respiratory or circulatory issues.
6. Hospital beds with side rails: These are to help prevent bed falls for those who may have had one in the past or have a cognitive condition such as Alzheimer’s or Dementia.
At Opera Beds, our friendly team of experts are on hand to find the perfect hospital bed for you or a loved one. Choose how you’d like to get started with a free no-pressure selling consultation.
Future-Proofing Explained
When we refer to futureproofing, it simply means thinking about care needs for now and in the future. Hospital beds are an investment, and the right bed can ensure continuous care and comfort at home for years to come.
Questions to Consider When Purchasing a Hospital bed Around Future-Proofing
Finding the right hospital bed for you or a loved one is dependent on the specific needs, but here are a few questions to ask when it comes to considering future care needs:
- Do you or a loved one have a progressive medical condition?
- Is height adjustment needed, are they struggling to get in and out of bed?
- Do you foresee a change in circumstances in the future?
- Is their mobility likely to deteriorate?
- Are you or the user likely to spend more time in bed?
- Have you, or a loved one had a bed fall?
We understand that choosing the most suitable bed for care needs at home can be daunting, especially if you are purchasing on behalf of a family member. That’s why our team ensure they fully understand the circumstances and level of care required before making suitable recommendations. Our team guide you through the process from initial enquiry through to delivery and installation.
Learn more about what to expect when you choose an Opera bed.
Features to Consider When Future-Proofing
When futureproofing a hospital bed for a home, it's important to consider the features that will cater to both current and future care needs. Some of the key features to consider include:
Height adjustment: Hospital beds have different height adjustment ranges. For example, if you or a loved one struggles getting on and off the bed, you may be better off with a low-height bed. If you have or are likely to have on-bed care, you may wish to opt for full-height adjustment where the bed raises to carers' waist level.
Side rails: At Opera, many of our hospital beds can be purchased without rails, but they can be added in the future. This is a great solution for futureproofing as the bed can be adapted to include side rails later down the line should care needs progress or circumstances change.
Weight capacity: The weight capacity is crucial as it determines the maximum weight the bed can accommodate, and it's important to choose a bed that can accommodate any potential weight changes in the future.
Read more about the features and benefits of hospital beds in our helpful guide.
Risks Associated with Not Future-Proofing Your Choice of Hospital Bed
Purchasing a hospital bed that is suitable for future care needs can pose potential risks to both the user and the care provider. Here are some key risks associated with making an inadequate choice:
Patient Comfort and Safety Issues: A hospital bed that is no longer fit for purpose, could lead to inadequate adequate support, comfort, or safety features needed for patients with specific medical conditions or mobility challenges. This can lead to discomfort, increased risk of bedsores, and compromised patient safety.
Limited Adaptability: Patients' conditions can change over time, requiring adjustments in care and equipment. Choosing a bed that lacks adaptability to evolving medical needs may necessitate frequent replacements or modifications.
Added Cost: Investing in a hospital bed that isn’t suitable for future care needs can result in needing to purchase a more suitable solution which can be costly.
Negatively impacts well-being and quality of life: If a hospital bed becomes unsuitable for you or a loved one, that can become stressful and uncomfortable. This can negatively impact well-being and quality of life.
A hospital bed for home should make life easier and facilitate care more efficiently. Therefore, it is important to fully address your, or your loved one's needs to ensure long-lasting comfort and support.
How Opera Beds Can Help You to Choose the Right Hospital Bed
Recognised as the trusted experts for profiling beds, at Opera, we are committed to finding the right solution the first time.
We understand that a hospital bed is an investment, that’s why we offer a range of ways to get started to suit your needs:
Browse – Prefer to shop online? Try our bed selector tool for tailored recommendations and pricing.
Call – Speak to an expert over the phone or by virtual video appointment to discuss your needs.
Try – Have a consultation in person by visiting an Opera showroom. Not able to travel? Request a home visit.
