advice: buy hospital bed for home use?

[firecat]

Seeking advice about buying a hospital bed for use at home. The person needing the bed is aged 91, can walk a little with a walker and balance assistance, and has dementia. He has 24/7 care.

I'm just overwhelmed by the options and wildly varying prices.

I know I can rent one but I'd rather buy because I expect he'll be using it for a while.

Comments

[mdlbear]

The ones Colleen and I bought are the "Invacare Full Electric Hospital Bed Package. Includes Mattress and Rails" -- which Amazon no longer sells, but a search turns up identical-looking beds elsewhere. They were pretty-much the least expensive full-electric beds we could find. (Full-electric means that the height adjustment is motorized, although the bed comes with a crank that can be used in case of power failure.) This model is capable of being adjusted pretty low -- use with a fairly thin mattress -- but still goes high enough to be changed without back strain.

Two of them are exactly the same width as a king-sized bed. Use sheet sets for "split king".

Here's one: Invacare 5410LOW Low Full Electric Homecare Bed I see one for $999 at Walmart; different places may come with different accessory packages.

[firecat]

Thank you so much! This is really helpful!

[mdlbear]

One thing you do need to watch out for is that they're 36" wide, which is a few inches narrower than a twin mattress. We never found that to be a problem, There's an extension piece that makes them essentially the same length as a California king (IIRC). It's supposedly removable, but on our set it was welded in place. That makes for gaps at either end. The gap at the foot end is a good place to stash extra blankets, etc.

You can get 36"-wide mattresses that are also the right length, but you may not want to bother. Or they may come with the bed--ours did but they only lasted about 8 years. You can also get 30"-wide mattresses. Don't get those, or you'll end up with the metal frame extending past the edge of the mattress. Ouch!

[firecat]

Thanks for the tip! I’m planning to get a mattress that’s made to go with the bed and hope that a nice mattress topper will make it comfortable enough.

[mdlbear]

That will work -- I bought such a mattress (made by Invacare, same as the bed) for Colleen; she didn't get to use it much unfortunately.

[megpie71]

Okay, I'm in a different context (Australian, working in the disability care sector) but my suggestion would involve talking to a (/his) physiotherapist or occupational therapist about what the person who's going to be using the bed needs - preferably one who specialises is sleep solutions - because they'll be able to give the best advice about the available Assistive Technology for the situation. If you provide them with things like a budget range or similar, they may be able to narrow down the list of options for you to allow for easier decision making.

[firecat]

Thank you!

[minoanmiss]

Does this person have a case manager? The case manager should advise you

[firecat]

Thanks, no case manager, just one befuddled offspring

[minoanmiss]

Aw dang, I'm sorry.

If I were able to have coffee with you I could probably at least figure out who on the care team should advise you on buying the bed, but over the internet I'd have to ask way too many invasive questions whose answers really shouldn't be written down. I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

ETA nifty people in the comments have been much more helpful! woot!

[firecat]

Thanks for your help!

[azurelunatic]

Depending on the budget, the best place for cheap hospital beds I have found is Craigslist. I kind of centered the map arbitrarily and I'm not convinced that the locations are anything like accurate, but https://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/pen/sss?condition=10&condition=20&condition=30&excats=1-1-5-11-1-1-19-2-1-2-14-7-3-1-4-19-1-1-1-1-2-1-8-10-1-1-1-1-1-2-8-1-1-1-1-1-6-1-1-1-3-1-1-2-7-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-4-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2-1&query=hospital%20bed#search=1~gallery~0~0 has enough good results, including accessories that I'd at least look for inspiration.

Bed rails are a good option if he's apt to forget he's in bed. If he's in danger of pressure sores, the fancy air/pump mattresses are good.

https://slo.craigslist.org/hab/d/atascadero-hillrom-totalcare-model/7653312252.html [Hillrom® TotalCare® Model P1900] might be more features than necessary

You will probably want paid delivery and paid setup, especially if there are stairs or weird corners.

[firecat]

Thank you so much for the link and the tips!