Features of an adjustable height bed

There are two variations on the adjustable height bed. The cheaper version has manual turning crank adjustment whilst the more expensive alternative has an electric motorised bed height adjuster. This type of bed is often termed as an orthopedic bed or a bed with orthopedic properties. It may also be described as a "care bed".

A manual height adjustment bed can only be adjusted by a carer or third party if it is occupied and the height adjustment is usually controlled by a hand operated turning mechanism. The gearing of this mechanism means that it is not unduly difficult to adjust, even when there is someone already in the bed.

Electrically adjustable beds use one or more electric motors and they are managed by a remote control that is normally attached to the bed frame. There are a number of advantages to this kind of operation. The first is that the bed height feature can be adjusted by the occupant or patient whilst they are in the bed. This negates the need for a carer of family member to attend if a change in the bed’s positional settings is required.

The second advantage is ease of use for anyone who needs to adjust the bed height independently. There is no physical exertion required and this means that anyone of any age or physical condition can alter the bed. It also results in a smooth height change.

Why would you want a bed with height adjustment?

There are many reasons why a height adjustable bed can be advantageous. These range from the ease of getting into and out of a bed, which is greatly assisted if the bed height can be set to a patients unique requirements, to the increased convenience of carers.

If an individual is bed bound, or if they have to spend prolonged periods of time in bed, a carer or family member will have to attend to them. This care can involve everything from making and changing the bed to serving meals and offering treatments.

The facility to raise and lower the height of the bed (and the person within it) can make all of these activities much simpler and safer. Changing the bed’s height can reduce stretching and bending and make the caring for of a bed bound person much easier.

Who can benefit from this type of bed?

The benefits of height adjustable beds is something that is shared between the bed's user and any carer or family member who looks after them.

The person in the bed will find entering and leaving the bed less strenuous if the mattress level is adjusted to a convenient sitting height. This means that anyone with joint or muscle problems will find these beds helpful. Arthritis sufferers, people who are obese, those with MS and anyone with a muscular weakness should benefit from them. They can be very helpful to the elderly and can also be used as a convalescing bed for anyone recovering from an illness or surgery.

One of the dangers associated with patients sleeping or resting in therapy or high dependency beds is the risk of injury resulting from falling out of the bed. Two ways of preventing, or at least lessening the seriousness of, any such accidents is to use bed rails and bed fall out mats. The rails can prevent falls and the impact absorbing matting can lessen the impact and resulting injury.

What to look for in a height adjustable orthopedic bed

The key feature of this type of bed is the frame and the elevating mechanism that controls and regulates the height adjustment, i.e. its ease of use, speed and increment adjustment level. Casters normally come as standard with the beds.

The frame should be strong and robust, but also as light as possible as beds of this type often need to be moved around. Most of these beds have a tubular metal construction.

Many of these beds come with a mattress and when this is the case the quality of the mattress should not be overlooked. Many height adjustable “care standard” beds will have easy clean (hard wearing) mattress covers with a foam mattress. The best materials for these mattresses are visco elastic memory foam or latex foam. Some of these mattress types are “no turn”, which means that they must always be the same side up.

Always check that the location where the bed will be positioned is sufficiently large for not just the bed, but the carers who will work around it.

Variations and specialisms in adjustable beds include -

• The bariatric bed for very large or obese people.
• The therapeutic bed for those with special needs, those with limited mobility, or those who are confined to a bed for long periods of time.
• Electrci beds where the movement and control is powered by motors.