Tips for Buying an Electric Hospital Bed

Tips for Buying an Electric Hospital Bed

If you have found this you are in the position of having to buy an electric hospital bed for either yourself or a loved one, or perhaps you are just helping out a friend. It’s a big decision (for more reasons than one) and a significant investment, and though there aren’t dozens and dozens of them to choose from, you do need to feel comfortable with your choice, so a little help in getting you there can go a long way to peace of mind.

  1. Price. As with most purchases, the first decision is price. How much money can be spent on this bed. For less than $500 you can purchase a semi-electric hospital bed, and that’s for the bed only. A mattress and rails adds another couple hundred dollars to the purchase – you may be lucky enough to find a package that offers a deal for about $750. A full electric bed will add upwards of $150 to the cost – and up to $2000 or more depending on the model. A bariatric bed without the mattress or rails will cost about $4000.
  2. Semi-Electric or Full Electric. A semi-electric bed allows you to raise and lower the head and foot using a digital keypad, but to raise or lower the actual bed, you have to wind it manually using an included handle, which is not difficult to do. A full electric bed allows adjustment to the height of the bed as well as the position of the head and foot via a digital keypad.
  3. Bariatric or Standard. The deciding factor here is the weight of the patient. Standard homecare beds are designed to comfortably and safely support patients up to a maximum weight of 350 lbs, whereas a bariatric bed is to designed for patients with a weight of up to 700 lbs.
  4. Mattress. A foam mattress is the cheapest and is the type that will be included in most packages. However, mattresses that provide proper support are also available at a price.
  5. Bed Rails. Hospital bed packages will include bed rails, but if you are purchasing separate items, there are a variety of different bed rails to choose from, ranging in price from about $60 for a simple quarter length rail to $400 for a full adjustable bedrail made from professional grade steel and with anti-bacterial powder coating. A quarter length rail is about 18″ in length and can be moved easily along the bed under the mattress depending on where it is most needed. A similar full length rail will only add about $20 to the cost. It really does boil down to what would be most appropriate for the patient’s needs – do they need to be able to adjust the rail themselves or should it be done by a caregiver.
  6. Accessories & Replacement Parts. A host of accessories and parts are available for homecare beds, including extension kits for extra tall patients, bed rail bumper pads, bed storage carts, trapeze adaptor frames and electric patient lifts, to name a few.

With the above in mind, you are now in a better position to purchase the best homecare electric bed for your loved one.