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DISCLAIMER:
Whilst all care is taken to provide accurate information with respect to the item described, the Independent Living Centre (ILC) is not involved in product design or manufacture, and therefore not in a position to guarantee the accuracy of the information provided. Selection of equipment, which is both suitable and appropriate for individual needs remains the responsibility of the person(s) considering requisition, and no responsibility is taken by the ILC for any loss or injury caused through use of the equipment or alleged to have arisen through reliance upon information provided. As information is subject to change any enquiries should be directed to the manufacturer.
Item Details
A Guide To Selecting A Manually Adjustable Bed
ILC Reference NO 21:09:001
Item sourced from ILC NSW database
Short Description
The following provides a guide for selecting a manually adjustable bed that may best suit an individuals needs. Also consider alternatives to purchasing such as hiring a bed, or the addition of different equipment items to the already existing bed. An occupational therapist will be able to help with this decision or contact the Independent Living Centre.
Price Guide
Approx Price: $0.00
Price Date: 02/05/2008
More Details
A manually adjustable bed is generally hydraulically and / or mechanically adjusted. This may require the winding of a handle to adjust the bed. It is important to consider a person's ability to manage these adjustments and to trial a range of beds prior to purchase.
*Bed adjustments include bed tilt, bed height, backrest angle, legrest angle and knee break. The bed may have a steel, stainless steel or wooden construction with a powder / epoxy or nylon finish. Many manually adjustable beds have the appearance of a hospital bed.
*The bed may provide the following advantages to the user:
- Enable a person to get in and out of bed with greater ease such as when the backrest is raised and / or when the bed is positioned at a suitable ideal height;
- Enable a person to sit up in bed or to be positioned more comfortably;
- Enable a person to be positioned to assist a carer;
- Enable a person to be positioned as requested by a medical practitioner, e.g. legs elevated.
Prior to purchase the following additional points may be considered:
- Whether the bed can be customised to suit individual needs, if required;
- Suitability of the mattress supplied;
- For those beds bigger than a single bed size, headrest angle adjustments can be as one, or split for two people. It may be worth considering joining two beds, as there can be complications with the sheets being untucked when one person sits up and the other is lying
down;
- Does the position of the hinges match the required position for sitting up or for the knee break?
- Does the bed raise and lower to the required heights?
- Ease of operating the winding handle or depressing the gas assisted hydraulic foot pumps (foot pumps may require one press, or multiple pumps to achieve a full raise of the bed);
- Backrest and knee break may raise together, rather than independently. Is this suitable?
- Is there enough access under the bed for a mobile hoist if required? Note that the clearance under the bed changes as the bed raises and lowers;
- If a mobile hoist is required, can it lift high enough and reach far enough over the bed to lay the person in a comfortable position?
- Consider load capacity of the bed;
- Ease of attaching or provision of bed rails, if required;
- Provision of a quick release lowering of the backrest, in the case of an emergency (ie. to allow CPR to be carried out);
- Provision of rubber buffers on the bed corners - to reduce wall damage if the bed is to be moved regularly;
- Provision of extension boards, which increase the length of the bed if required;
- Provision of head and footboards which can be removed for ease of changing the bed;
- Provision of bed rails - removable, fold down;
- Able to be dismantled for storage;
- If independent bed adjustment is required, an electrically adjustable bed may be considered.
Features
BED CONSTRUCTION
Base and frame
The bed may have a steel or wooden construction. The base may be wooden slats, wooden with ventilation holes, weld mesh or sheet steel with air holes.
Castors
Size and material of castors, with foot operated locks. Some beds have a steering lock which, when applied, allows the bed to be pushed in a straight line. This may benefit such applications as in hospitals or hostels. Determine ease of moving the bed, if required. This may be difficult over thick pile carpets.
Bed sizes
Single bed size is standard, but other sizes may be available (King single, Double, Queen and King).
Choice of mattress
A mattress, which can accommodate the different positions of the adjustable bed, is required. An inner spring, latex rubber or foam mattress is commonly supplied. Consider suitability of the mattress cover (waterproof, fire retardant, 2 - 3 way stretch, breathable) and whether a pressure reduction or comfort mattress overlay may be needed at the time of purchase or in the future.
BED ADJUSTMENTS
A manually adjustable bed generally offers:
Height adjustable (may be referred to as Hi Lo)
The height of the bed base is raised or lowered. This may assist the person get in and out of the bed by positioning the bed at a height suitable for the individual. Some beds may go down to nearly floor level, but they may not rise as high as required. It is important to note that the raising / lowering mechanism is usually located underneath the bed and this may restrict the access of equipment such as a hoist or over bed table.
Tilt
This is when the whole bed tilts so that the person's feet are higher than their head (Trendelenburg Tilt) or in the opposite direction (Reverse Trendelenburg).
Backrest angle
The backrest can be altered from flat to nearly 90 degrees (upright position). This allows the person to sit up in bed, to lie in a slightly upright position or it may assist a person transferring out of bed by raising their upper body.
Knee break
The bed base angles upward under the knee area, this helps prevent the person sliding down the bed when they are sitting in a more upright position. When the backrest is in the upright position and the knee break is at its greatest angle, check there is a flat area for the buttocks
to be supported, rather than the individually being suspended in a 'V' between the backrest and knee break.
Legrest
The foot end of the bed elevates, instead of under the knees only.
Options
A range of options may be supplied and include the following:
- Bed rails - Self help pole
- IV pole - Bed extension
- Fixed bed height - Protective mattress cover
- Rotary buffers - Fracture frame
- Storage tray - Tilting / Trendelenburg adjustment
- Drainage bag rail - Two way stretch mattress cover
- Oxygen cylinder holder
- Manual steering lock system
Method Of Use
A manually adjustable bed requires the assistance of a carer to enable any adjustments to be made whilst the individual is in bed.
The bed may be mechanically or hydraulically adjustable. Examples of adjustments include bed height with a manual (hydraulic) foot pump located on the side of the bed; backrest angle and knee break which utilises a manual (mechanical) winding action with handles located at
the foot of the bed The handle may be removable or fold away after use. A gas assisted spring mechanism may assist by taking the weight of the bed / occupant during adjustment.
After lifting the backrest, knee break or tilt to the desired position a ratchet system may be used to hold it in place. Finger levers may be used to unlock the position of the backrest or knee break.
Standards
Some assistive technology needs to meet Australian or other standards. Standards may relate to materials, manufacturing and installation. Products that meet Australian or international standards will have written certification. To find out if a product meets Australian Standards ask the supplier to show you the certificate. For a fact sheet about standards contact us or visit www.ilcaustralia.org/home/standards.asp
Supplier Information - click to supplier for contacts details
Additional /images
No additional /images apply to this item
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