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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 An Electrically Adjustable Bed
ILC Reference NO 21:10:999
Item sourced from ILC WA database
Short Description
There are many electrically adjustable beds available for purchase and the following provides a guide for selecting a bed that may best suit an individual's needs.
Note that there may be alternatives to purchasing an electrically adjustable bed, and these may include the hire of an electrically adjustable bed, purchase or hire of a manually adjustable bed or the addition of different equipment items to the already existing bed. Your occupational therapist will be able to help with this decision or contact the Independent Living Centre of WA (Inc).
Price Guide
Refer to supplier details for pricing
More Details
An electrically adjustable bed generally incorporates a hand held control attached to an electric motor. The motor drives certain bed adjustments which include bed tilt, bed height, backrest angle, legrest height and knee break.
The bed may have a steel, stainless steel or wooden construction with a powder / epoxy or nylon finish. Many electrically adjustable beds have the appearance of a hospital bed. An electrically operated bed may provide the following advantages to the user:
- Enable a person to get in and out of bed with greater ease or independently, when the bed is positioned at the ideal height;
- Enable a person to sit up in bed or change position independently, with the use of the hand held control;
- Enable a person to be positioned easier, to assist a carer;
- Enable a person to be positioned more comfortably;
- Enable a person to be positioned as requested by a medical practitioner, e.g. legs elevated.
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 allow the bed to be pushed in a straight line, which may benefit such applications as 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:
Electrically adjustable beds require a specific type of mattress, that is, one without a rigid outer edge of wire. This allows the mattress to accommodate the different positions of the adjustable bed. An inner spring, latex or foam mattress is commonly supplied. Consider suitability of the mattress cover (water proof, 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
An electrically 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 ideal for the individual. Some beds may go down to nearly floor level, but they may not raise as high as required. It is important to note that the motor and 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. A bed may be a fixed height but still offer other electrically adjustable features.
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 angles upwards (like a small hill) 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 it's 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.
Method Of Operation
The hand held control may have push button, lever or soft touch controls that when pressed raise or lower the backrest, knee break, bed height or tilt. Larger sized buttons, clear words or diagrams and illuminated controls may be easier to use for a person with poor finger control or who is easily confused. Sometimes the controls can be modified to suit the individual. Generally the electric adjustment is powered via a 240 volt power point. The power is then supplied to the hand held control via a transformer. It is important that any power cords are kept free from any moving parts of the bed. Battery back up may be supplied, this enables the bed to be used whilst there is a power failure and is important if the person spends a lot of time in bed and / or lives alone.
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 - Fracture (Baulkan) Frame
- Oxygen cylinder holder - Two way stretch mattress cover
- Manual steering lock system
Additional Information
Prior to purchase the following additional points may be considered:
- Whether the bed can be customised to suit individual needs, if required;
- Suitability of 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?
- 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;
- Noise of electric operation;
- Provision of a quick release lowering of the backrest, in the case of an emergency (i.e. 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 foot boards which can be removed for ease of changing the bed;
- Provision of bed rails - removable, fold down;
- Able to be dismantled for storage.
Further information can be obtained by contacting the Independent Living Centre of WA (Inc), phone (08) 9381 0600 or Toll free in WA: 1800 800 523.
Australian And Other Standards
For some types of equipment, specific Australian Standards are applicable to the materials used in, and the manufacturing processes applied to products. Purchasers are advised to check with the supplier or manufacturer of this item as to its compliance with the relevant Australian Standards. Stated compliance with a Standard does not guarantee that the product has been tested against that Standard.
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