How to Choose a Hospital Bed for Home Use

Sleep is critical in maintaining energy balance, cognitive function, and overall health. For those using a hospital bed at home due to illness, disability, or pain, finding the right bed is essential for achieving restorative sleep. This guide explores the key differences between hospital beds, offers honest customer feedback, answers frequently asked questions, and highlights important features to consider before purchasing.

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Things to Consider

Sleep is essential for your overall well-being, so your sleep space should be tailored to help you get the best rest possible! While you sleep, your brain recovers from the stresses of the day, and the quality and quantity of sleep directly impact your performance and decision-making. A good night's sleep leaves you feeling more alert, positive, and better equipped to ward off illness and tackle medical challenges. It also helps you get along with others and improves your overall physical and mental health.

Temporary vs Permanent 

If a person spends more than 15 hours daily in bed or requires long-term care, a full-electric home hospital bed offers the best comfort and durability while reducing physical strain on caregivers. However, these beds are also the most expensive. Manual and semi-electric beds are more affordable and may be suitable for short-term use, but they require more effort from caregivers and offer less independence for the patient.

Mobility of Patient

Patient mobility plays a crucial role in selecting the right home hospital bed. A highly adjustable electric or semi-electric bed is ideal for those who are unsteady or at risk of falling. It&#;s also a great choice for individuals who cannot reposition themselves or safely get in and out of bed without height adjustments. However, if a patient can get in and out of bed independently and stand steadily a manually adjusted bed may be a more cost-effective option.

Strength of Caregiver

Caregiver needs should be considered to ensure the proper level of care can be provided. For a patient requiring many position changes, a manual bed wouldn&#;t be the best choice. An electric bed will take the most strain off a caregiver. A caregiver&#;s strength and stamina should be considered when deciding which home hospital bed is best.

Size of the Patient

A bariatric bed is wider than a standard bed, providing greater comfort for heavier users. Pediatric patients will be safer and more comfortable in a child-sized bed. Beds can also be customized for taller patients. No matter the size needed, the right bed can be found!

Positioning

For patients who spend most of their time in bed, especially if mobility challenges prevent them from regularly self-repositioning, a hospital bed&#;s positioning features can significantly impact comfort and quality of sleep. The number of sections, position options, and height adjustability contribute to the user experience. Here are the most popular positioning options:

• Trendelenburg: The patient is supine, with the head below the feet. This position is used in a clinical setting to reverse hypotension, treat low cardiac output, insert central IV catheters, increase postural drainage, reduce leg swelling, and help move heavy patients up in bed. It also allows better access to insert venous catheters.
• Reverse Trendelenburg: The patient is supine while the head is raised above the heart and the legs. It is used in surgeries of the head and neck to decrease blood loss and can also help decrease blood pressure.
• Comfort Chair: A hospital bed that can move a patient from a flat position to a seated position at a controlled rate with minimal patient movement helps relieve the lungs and supports circulation. Requiring a 4-function bed, the chair position uses sections that support the patient's back, bottom, arms, and legs.
• Fowler's Position: a standard position where the patient is seated in a semi-upright position at an angle between 30 and 90 degrees, with legs either bent or straight. It helps expand the chest as the top of the bed is raised and is often used to promote respiration and oxygenation.

Assembly Service

Optional assembly services simplify setting up a hospital bed at home, removing the guesswork and effort. During a stressful time, having professionals correctly assemble the bed can reduce anxiety and help create a calmer, more comfortable environment.

Rehabmart has a large selection of hospital beds and other products that offer assembly services.

Why Do I Need a Hospital Bed at Home?

A hospital bed at home can be a valuable tool for promoting rest and healing. Whether recovering from an injury, adjusting to mobility limitations, or transitioning from an in-patient stay, a home hospital bed can enhance health, independence, and overall quality of life. 

The adjustable knee and head sections improve incontinence support, and easy sanitization helps maintain a healthy environment. Repositioning options reduce the risk of pressure ulcers and provide comfortable postural support. Safety features like side rails, bolstered mattresses, and height adjustability further minimize the risk of falling out of bed.

What Is the Most Comfortable Hospital Bed?

This answer is different for everyone, but there are options to fit any needs. Beds that have multiple positions to correctly and comfortably support the body, mattresses that range in firmness, and available therapeutic features all impact the user's comfort.

What Is A Full-Electric Hospital Bed?

A full-electric hospital bed electrically adjusts the height, head, and foot positions with the press of a button. Benefits include fostering patient independence and safety features to ensure maximum user comfort and safety while minimizing the physical strain on a caregiver.

Can I Get a Hospital Bed for Home Use?

Yes, we have a wide selection of hospital and home care beds!

What Is a Semi-Electric Hospital Bed?

A semi-electric bed combines manual and electric adjustments. The head and foot sections are typically adjusted electrically, while a hand crank manually adjusts the bed&#;s height. This style is ideal for users who need to adjust the head and foot sections for comfort but don&#;t require frequent height adjustments when getting in and out of bed.

What Is a Bariatric Hospital Bed?

A bariatric hospital bed is designed to meet larger-framed users' size and support needs, handling more weight than standard hospital beds. Some models can support up to 1,000 pounds, while others are suited for patients weighing 350-450 pounds, filling the gap where standard beds fall short. With heavy-duty construction, these beds are durable and feature height adjustability, safety rails, and extra width to cater specifically to bariatric patients.

Does Medicare Cover Hospital Beds?

Medicare will cover home hospital beds if they are prescribed by a doctor as medically necessary durable medical equipment.

How Much Does a Fully Electric Hospital Bed Cost?

A fully electric home hospital bed can range from $500 to $, and the mattress isn&#;t always included, so consumers need to ensure they are also getting all the appropriate accessories when purchasing a bed.

What's the Difference Between an Electric Hospital Bed and an Adjustable Bed?

The primary purpose of a hospital bed is to provide effective care and treatment while ensuring patient safety and comfort. Adjustable beds are designed with a focus on maximizing user comfort and support for activities like sleeping, reading, eating, watching TV, or relaxing. They resemble standard beds more closely, while home hospital beds are geared toward treatment and often have a more institutional design and feel

What is a Hospital Bed For Home Care? 

A hospital bed for home care has features that cater to the needs of people recovering from an injury or who have to spend a lot of time in bed. Their adjustability makes them more appropriate than a standard bed for providing comfortable support and enabling caregivers to deliver quality care.

What are the Different Types of Hospital Beds?

There are three main types of hospital beds: manual, semi-electric, and full-electric. Below, we break down each bed and our top-recommended product.

Manual Hospital Beds

Manual hospital beds are the least expensive models, with fewer features than semi-electric or full-electric options. A manual hospital bed requires a caregiver to make adjustments via a hand crank, making them most appropriate when frequent adjustments are unnecessary.

Pros

• Least expensive type
• Good choice if frequent adjustments aren&#;t necessary

Cons

• Potential caregiver strain from making manual adjustments
• Not as many position choices as electric beds

Best Manual Hospital Bed: Multi-Height Manual Adjustable Beds by Drive Medical

Semi-Electric Hospital Beds

A semi-electric hospital bed is a good choice for someone who has good enough balance to not need to adjust the height of the bed to transfer on and off. This bed style uses electric and manual adjustments, with the head and foot sections usually adjusted electrically while the height is adjusted with a manual crank. 

Pros

• Easy to make heat and foot positioning adjustments
• Lower cost for the feature of head and foot adjustability than a full-electric home hospital bed
• User confidence and independence are supported with user-adjustability

Cons

• Must rely on a caregiver to make height adjustments
• Using a hand crank puts a strain on caregivers

Best Semi-Electric Hospital Bed: Competitor II Semi-Electric Hospital Bed by Drive Medical

Full Electric Hospital Beds

The height, head, and feet adjustments are made with the push of a button on a full-electric hospital bed. If a patient can control the bed positioning, it decreases reliance on caregiver assistance and increases independence and confidence. If a caregiver isn&#;t close by, most full-electric beds have a feature that locks the bed in position so a patient can&#;t accidentally move it into a position that could be dangerous.

Pros

• No strain on caregivers to adjust the bed
• When allowed, the user can adjust the bed without assistance
• Addresses multiple conditions and positioning needs: sleep, circulation, skin issues, aches and pains

Cons

• Highest price point due to the many electrical components

Best Full Electric Hospital Bed: Lumina Medical Electric Hospital Bed with 5 Functions

What Are Specialty Beds?

Specialty hospital beds are specialized beds that are designed to meet very specific patient needs. Some specialty beds address fall risks, bariatric patient weight, and non-clinical designs. 

Although not hospital beds, sleep-to-stand beds have some of the exact positioning options as hospital beds. Sometimes, they are referred to as sit-to-stand beds or adjustable beds. They provide comfortable support for many things a person would use a home hospital bed for, like sleeping, reading, watching TV, or relaxing. They look more like standard beds and can be ordered in larger sizes to accommodate two sleepers. The less-institutional feel is attractive to many users. There are a few basic models with manually adjustable frames, but they are not used in caregiving settings. By far, most adjustable beds are fully electric, and some can take users from lying down to standing up for easy transfers. They are a good choice for people who seek some of the features of a hospital bed but want a traditional bed's look, feel, and size options.

Pros

• Adjustability can prevent falls during transfers
• Comfortable and supportive, with positioning customized for the user
• Choice of sizes

Cons

• Need to buy special mattress

Best Sleep to Stand Bed: Envyy EZ Out Sleep to Stand Electric Lift Bed - Twin Sized - Fixed Height - by Platinum Health

Low Bed

Low beds are ideal for people with a higher risk of falling because they reduce the distance between the bed and the floor, decreasing the risk of injury from a fall. These beds make it easier for users to get in and out of bed, which helps minimize the strain on a caregiver during transfers. Usually, the height is adjusted electrically, and positioning adjustability includes elevating and reclining the head and feet sections and allowing for ergonomic lying down and sitting.

Pros

• Reduces caregiver strain
• Minimizes the risk of an injury from a fall
• Electric height adjustability
• Positions can be adjusted in several models

Cons

• Most low beds have an institutional look and feel

Best Low Bed: FloorBed by Accora, Floor Level Fall Prevention, Height-Adjustable, Ultra-Low Bed with Bariatric Option

Bariatric Hospital Bed

Standard hospital beds have a weight capacity of 350 to 450 pounds. Bariatric hospital beds, also called heavy-duty beds, can accommodate users weighing up to 1,000 pounds. Along with heavy-duty construction and larger sizes, with widths as wide as 54 inches, bariatric hospital beds feature height adjustability and can be ordered with safety rails. A bariatric bed, especially for someone who can&#;t independently reposition in a smaller bed, will support a larger patient in comfort and dignity.

Pros

• Electric adjustability allows the patient to reposition independently without straining a caregiver
• Created specifically for patients who would not be safe or comfortable in a standard-sized bed
• Durable, heavy-duty construction

Cons

• Beds don&#;t always come with a mattress, so a special bariatric mattress will need to be ordered
• Bariatric beds are cumbersome to move

Best Bariatric Hospital Bed: Lincoln Expandable Five Function Bariatric Electric Bed with Trendelenburg

Deluxe Hospital Bed

Deluxe hospital beds are built for long-term, heavy-duty use, meeting the needs of acute-care patients and caregivers. Side rails, mitigated entrapment risk, and exit alarms focus on patient safety. User-friendly controls include a nurse panel, and patients can adjust the bed position without assistance. Benefits of a deluxe bed include ease of treatment delivery provided by the maneuverability, electric height adjustability, and the list of accessories available with this type of bed.

Pros 

• User-friendly patient controls
• Safety features reduce the risk of unsafe exit and patient entrapment
• Constructed for heavy-duty, long-term use
• Highly adjustable to facilitate care and treatment

Cons

• High price point
• Look and feel of clinical medical equipment

Best Deluxe Hospital Bed: Span America Advantage Hospital Bed

Residential Design Bed

Although not technically a hospital bed, residential design beds have hospital bed functionality in a bed you&#;d find at home. The ability to adjust this bed&#;s height and the option to install side rails make it easier for users to get out of bed than with a standard bed. The electric adjustability helps relieve pressure points and combat the development of bed sores, while the ergonomic positioning provides support and comfort. They can be ordered with waterproof mattress covers that contribute to a clinically sanitized environment at home. 

Pros

• Styled like furniture rather than medical equipment
• Functionality of a hospital bed
• Decreases fall risk, allows for more user independence
• Adjustable for individualized comfort

Cons

• Heavier than a regular bed
• Usually, does not accommodate standard mattress

Best Residential-Looking Hospital Bed: Orin Recliner Bed - Rotating, Sleep to Stand, Head and Foot Elevation by StarSleep

The company is the world’s best electric rotating nursing bed supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Fully-Enclosed Safety Bed

Although not hospital beds, safety beds offer features that address special needs and medical conditions and support sleep in a secure space. Enclosed by walls, fabric, or rails, in sizes appropriate for children and adults. Safety beds protect from falls, prevent unassisted exits, provide easy caregiver access, and protect from entrapment or entanglement. They have features like padding to protect users who have seizures, access ports for medical equipment, and support for those with sensory processing disorders who benefit from a completely enclosed space. They come in fixed heights or with manual or powered height adjustability, and mattresses range from air to gel to articulating. Some portable models are easy to take along while traveling. 

Pros

• Provide caregiver peace of mind by preventing wandering and bed falls
• Access to supportive medical equipment
• Many models to choose from to fit individual needs
• Users with sensory processing disorders appreciate the calming, enclosed space

Cons

• Can take up a lot of room, so measuring the available room space is important
• Not all models are conducive to smooth wheelchair transfers

Best Safety Bed: Haven Full Enclosure Safety Bed with High Side Mesh Sides and Ceiling

Final Thoughts

When choosing a home hospital bed, select the options that best meet your needs for comfort and care to ensure the most restorative and healing sleep possible. We've reviewed the types of hospital beds available, and since not all beds come with dedicated mattresses, it's important to carefully consider your mattress needs as well.

Our article on the 5 Best Hospital Bed Mattresses will help you decide on the right bed for you when it is time to set up a home hospital bed. You can also visit Caregiver University's extensive library for more information on the best home hospital bed for your needs, as well as much, much, more!

Hulet Smith, OT

Co-founder/CEO of Rehabmart, Pediatric Occupational Therapist, husband, and father. Passionate about connecting special needs kids with superb nutrition, sensory integration, and complementary health strategies. Excited about Rehabmart's mission to become the premier online educational platform which empowers caregivers by spotlighting innovative devices and interventions to achieve optimal patient response and recovery.

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