Blog How to Compare and Contrast Hospital Bed Used at Home?

For elderly and bedridden patients, a hospital bed for home care is no less than life-changing equipment. Many types and features can meet patients' particular requirements with different health conditions. 

However, choosing the wrong Bed can make the condition worse. That is why it is crucial to pick the right Bed that facilitates in good sleep and helps during the healing process. 

This article contrasts a range of hospital beds for home care with features, advantages, and disadvantages. 

Difference Between Hospital bed and Home Care Bed

·        Hospital bed

A Hospital bed is customized to suit the hospital's environment. These beds are fully adjustable in various ways. It helps healthcare professionals to perform the procedure when the patient is in Bed and support the patient's needs. 

Hospital bed also comes with rails that prevent the patient from falling. Moreover, each Bed has a table on the foot side of the Bed for storing the patient's chart. 

Most hospital beds are fully electric with a control panel on the Bed and other features. It comes in a standard size unless designed for the patient's unique requirements.

·        Hospital Bed for Home Care Use

These beds have assisted or other rehab facilities that can also be used at home. The beds for home care use come in various sizes, including beds that can carry obese patients. Only some such beds come with built-in rails and are mostly purchased separately. Other accessories, such as over-bed tables, safety locks, handsets, mattresses, and wall bumpers, can be purchased to fulfill the needs of patients.

Hospital beds for home care use can be raised or lowered according to different heights to assist in comfort. 

Types of Specialty Hospital Beds for Home Use

As for the basic category, home hospital beds are divided into manual, semi-electric, and fully electric beds. In these beds, the bed's headrest, footrest, and height are adjusted manually or electrically depending on the specific type.

Specialty hospital beds are manufactured by considering the patients' varying requirements based on their health condition. 

1.     Low Bed

The distance of the Bed to the floor is lesser in these Beds than in the conventional one to prevent the risk of injury after a fall. It also assists the patient in and out of bed, reducing the strain on caregivers while transferring the patients. 

The position adjustability includes elevating and lowering the head and foot sections, which permits ergonomically lying down and sitting. The height adjustment option is fully electrical in low beds. But most of its models have a look and feel of a hospital bed. 

2.     Sleep to Stand Bed

Also known as adjustable beds or sit-to-stand beds, these beds have almost the same features as a hospital bed. Also available as a double bed, it supports comfort for reading, sleeping, watching T.V, or just relaxing. 

It has a manual adjustment frame or a fully electric one that aids in the easy transfer of lying down the patient. It has a mix of hospital bed features and a traditional home bed, and a need to buy a special mattress.

3.     Bariatric Bed

Bariatric beds are heavy-duty, designed especially for obese individuals. Most hospital beds have a weight capacity of 450 to 500 lb., but these beds can carry patients weighing up to 1000 lb. 

These are larger in size and width with a height adjustment feature and can be purchased with a safety rail. It provides sufficient space for obese individuals to lie on the Bed comfortably. We need to have a separate bariatric mattress.

4.     Enclosed Bed

These safety beds are not hospital beds but have special features that meet the requirements of the individual with special needs. Ideal for both children and adults, enclosed beds, provide easy access to the caregiver, prevent unassisted exits, and keep the patient safe from entanglement and entrapment. 

The Bed also has ports to access the medical equipment with mattresses that can be air, gel, or articulating—specially designed for patients with sensory processing disorders, seizures, and other similar medical conditions.

5.     Deluxe Bed

These are designed for long-term use to meet the needs of acute care patients and caregivers. Side rails and exit alarms add in extra care of the patient. The user can adjust the bed positions without help and call a nurse with user-friendly control.

This Bed can have several accessories that facilitate the health care professionals to provide treatment with ease in terms of maneuverability and electric height adjustment.

Points to Consider When Purchasing a Hospital Bed for Home Use

When considering renting or purchasing a hospital bed for home use, it is imperative to ensure that the hospital bed features to match a patient's needs. 

·        Size and Weight Capacity

The size of the Bed has a significant impact on the comfort level of a patient. Hospital beds with lower widths or lengths can limit the patient's movement and positioning.

Weight capacity is another important consideration, as serious injury could happen to the patient if the Bed collapses due to excess weight.

·        Safety Accessories

Grab bars and side rails to prevent the patient from falling. It helps to reposition safely and easily reach to the hospital bed controls.

Weak or elderly who need additional support while getting in and out of Bed can take leverage from the safety rails for more stability.

·        Power Features       

Fully electric beds allow patients to change the height and bed frame with push-button controls. Semi-electric mattresses permit the elevation and reclining of the head and foot section with a remote control, while the bed frame is adjusted with a manual crank.

Semi-electric hospital beds are considered more affordable than fully electrical beds, but the fixed frame can cause difficulty for caregivers.