Hospital beds are a viable and cost-effective option for people needing hospital-type care at home. Different types of hospital beds are available with features that are attractive as well as user-friendly. Options vary in nature and are compatible for use by a caregiver, the patient or both.
We offer manual hospital beds, semi electric hospital beds, full electric hospital beds, bariatric hospital beds and low hospital beds from leading brands. Our beds are designed to provide complete comfort for bed-bound patients and make caring for patients less stressful.
What are the types of hospital beds
Manual hospital beds: These hospital beds have basic features and are a cost-effective solution for temporary use meeting all basic care requirements. Advantage of manual hospital beds is that they are not dependent on electrical current for adjustments and are cheaper than other models. They are adjusted using hand cranks positioned at the foot of the bed. Built strongly with reinforced frame, manual hospital beds are easy to maintain. The Multi-Height Manual Bed from Drive Medical can easily be adjusted to individual preference and needs. Its head and foot ends are inter changeable with Invacare and Sunrise.
The IVC Homecare Bed from Invacare is cost effective because it allows effortless positioning of the upper body and knees using a manual crank. Bed height can be customized as per individual needs.
Side rails/mattress choice for manual hospital beds
Side rails are an important feature of all hospital beds and provide enhanced patient safety from risk of fall. You can customize the railings and hospital bed mattress options for your manual bed.
Railing options include half-length, full-length and four piece half-length railings. Half-length extends from the head area to the waist with no railing at the foot. Full-length railing ensures there is no gap and extends from head to foot on either side of the bed. The four piece half-length railing involves four shorter rails on both sides with a gap around the waist area.
Mattress options include foam, innerspring or therapeutic support mattress, for example air-loss therapy.
Semi electric hospital beds: Built with a single or dual motor, these beds offer more features than a manual bed making life easier for caregivers. Movement of the head and foot sections can be controlled electronically but for the bed height, manual and electric options are available. Semi electric hospital beds are generally larger than conventional beds, lighter than full electric beds and can still be used for heavy-duty persons, with weight capacity up to 450 lbs. Suitable for taller and larger patients.
Side rails/mattress choice for semi electric hospital beds
Safety rail options include half-length or full-length.
Mattress options are innerspring, foam, therapeutic support mattresses like alternating pressure, gel, air or pressure relief mattress.
In the Lumex Patriot Bed, which is a semi electric bed from Graham-Field, the head and foot sections can be raised or lowered simultaneously or independently with one hand control. In case of a power failure, the motor unit lowers both sections with just a single standard 9-volt battery.
The Single Crank Bed from Drive Medical has manual height adjustment while the foot and head sections are electronically controlled. It has heavy-duty reinforced frame that holds up twisting and bending.
Full electric hospital beds: These are sturdy and have electronically-controlled head, foot and height adjustments. Allow for anatomically correct sleep posture with touch of a button. Latest full electric hospital beds are lightweight in design with the Lumex Patriot Bed weighing only 178 lbs.
Side rails/mattress choice for full electric hospital beds
Safety rail options include semi-length or full-length rails which are removable.
Mattress choice will depend on the user – his body type, his condition, allergies if any, and duration of usage. You can select from innerspring , memory foam, therapeutic foam, fiber-fill, air mattress, pressure relief, etc.
Bariatric hospital beds: These are heavy-duty beds with weight capacity going up to 1200 pounds. Bariatric hospital beds are also extra wide to accommodate large patients with a width going above 52 inches and length 88 inches. The Bariatric Bed from Graham-Field can support a weight up to 700 lbs including the patient, mattress, rails and accessories. It has a sleeping surface of 42”W x 80”L. Drive Medical’s Bariatric Bed is full electric and has a width of 54” with length of 88”. It features all-steel construction with a heavy-duty frame and has hand control that provides multiple bed positioning.
Low hospital beds: Low beds are ideal for those who are elderly and fragile and at risk of fall. They are simple in design and made with the frame close to the floor. Made of metal, wood or composite board, low hospital bed frames can accommodate both the box spring and mattress or just a mattress. The Alterra 1232 from Medline can move up from its lowest (7.25") to highest (26") height without any horizontal movement. It has slide stops which keep the mattress in place for safe transfer in and out of bed.
Choosing your hospital bed
When buying your hospital bed there are certain factors to keep in mind. What is the age and condition of the patient? Affordability? Are you looking for a basic bed or one with full options? What size is required? Who will operate it – patient or caregiver?
Choosing a mattress will depend on the general health condition of the patient because those who are bed-bound may require a therapeutic mattress. Our mattresses are designed for different body type, sizes and conditions. They are specially developed to prevent pressure ulcers/friction/shear, provide pain relief, etc.
Side rails choice will also depend on the patient and the level of safety he/she needs.
Our selection of hospital beds will meet all your needs. We offer products from leading manufacturers in the industry including Noa Medical, Ita-Med, Span America and MJM International Corp.
