Caring for elderly family members requires thoughtful planning, especially when it comes to their comfort and safety. One of the essential pieces of equipment for elder care at home is a medical bed for home. This is true whether the person is coming out of surgery, has a chronic medical condition, or is physically immobile; the right medical bed to have in the home again enhances the quality of life. However, the question that would usually arise is how would one be able to select the most appropriate one. To make the right decision, there are several factors that one needs to consider to get the right size that will suit the elderly.
Types of Medical Beds
Depending on the health need that is being met, medical beds are available in different types. The major categories are manual-operated, semi-electric, and fully electric beds. Manual types necessarily involve the use of force in ordering its height as well as the position of the bed. These may be cheap to operate but wheelchair-bound elderly may find it difficult to maneuver around the home.
On the other hand, semi-electric beds have some aspects of manual operations while at the same time having the convenience of electrical features. Last but not least, fully electric beds provide maximum mobility to the users as well as the caregivers in terms of height, head as well as foot part of the bed. A bed that has no use of electricity acts as a boon for the elders who require frequent readjustments or those who spend most of their time in bed.
Weight Capacity
In this context, weight capacity is one of the crucial aspects that one has to look for when purchasing a medical bed for home use. Conventional medical bed lifting ability is designed for a maximum of 204.1 kg; however, there are bariatric models with a lifting capacity of 272 kg – 453.6 kg. It is essential to make sure that the bed can align the elderly person well to avoid falls and the bed also lasts for long without getting damaged.
Adjustability and Features
One advantage of medical beds is that they are manageable. Medical beds can also be altered. Comfort not only comes with flexibility, but it also helps in reducing other complications such as bedsores and pressure ulcers that affect the elderly person who is most probably an immobile patient. This is a beautiful bed; look for one that has central controls for altering the location of the head and foot parts and height.
Others also have other characteristics such as the Trendelenburg positioning which is a position that helps in raising the legs of the patient above their heart as well as the reverse Trendelenburg which involves raising the head of the patient rather than the feet. Some of the features would prove useful for elders with certain medical conditions including cardiovascular diseases or breathing disorders.
Mattress Options
The mattress that accompanies or can be placed on the medical bed is as important as the bed frame. Typically known as foam mattresses, it is often used but in cases where the elderly person is at risk of pressure ulcers, he/she will require a pressure-relieving mattress. All these are intended to minimize pressure on weight-bearing areas resulting in the formation of sores.
Other types of mattresses are gel mattresses, which are intimating coolness, and air ones, which switch pressure points of the body according to the timetable to avoid the occurrence of skin illness. It is understood that for your convenience and the convenience of your elder, it is possible to add a mattress overlay for increased comfort and preventing pressure.
Mobility and Portability
Medical beds are mobility friendly this is even advantageous to the caregivers. Choose the beds with caster wheels as the wheels will help to move the bed backward or forward when it’s time to clean the floor or change the position of the bed. Nonetheless, you should make sure that the bed has wheels that can lock to avoid any unsolicited rolling around.
In case of a change in the health status of your elder or if you need to move the bed around, a lightweight or foldable bed could be ideal. As much as these beds may not have all the features that come with the heavier and more stationary ones, they are convenient, especially when being moved from one room or even house to another.
Warranty and Support
When buying a medical bed, it is relevant to have knowledge of whether the bed comes with any warranty that is offered thus, have knowledge of the technical support to be offered. Components that make medical beds include moving parts and electrical applications hence the possibility of developing faults within a given period. A good warranty will also offer comfort since you know that in case of repair or replacement, it will be taken care of. Additionally, check if the manufacturer or seller provides hospital bed repair services to ensure that any issues can be promptly resolved without causing discomfort or delay in your elder’s care.
To sum it up, it can be said that the proper choice of the medical bed for an elderly person is a decision that affects their comfort, safety, and health. Thus, based on the type of bed, its weight-bearing capacity, the ability to adjust the bed, and the presence of safety features, you can provide the best home care for your loved one. Regardless of the need for short-term rehabilitation or for long-term use, a properly selected medical bed will help deal with the daily challenges of elder care for both, the elder and the caregiver.
