As we watch our loved ones age, their independence and comfort become paramount. An integral part of this is their ability to move safely around their home – starting with their own bed.
Unfortunately, standard beds are not designed with this requirement in mind, leading to potential safety concerns and discomfort for the elderly. That’s why we’re here to address one of these critical areas: the importance of bed height for our seniors and how to appropriately lower a bed to promote their safety and independence.
What Are the Challenges With Regular Beds?
Standard beds, while suitable for the general population, often fall short of the needs of the elderly. Their fixed height and lack of adaptability can cause problems, especially for those with mobility issues. The act of climbing into a bed that is too high can be daunting, and trying to rise from a bed that is too low can be equally difficult.
Recognizing these issues and understanding the importance of maintaining a comfortable and independent living situation for our elders is key to helping them successfully age in place. We can’t underestimate the importance of bed height as we prioritize the safety, dignity, and independence of our loved ones.
Why Is Bed Height Important for the Elderly?
While it may seem a trivial concern, inappropriate bed height can pose considerable challenges. Too high, and there is a risk of injury from falling; too low, and it may require unnecessary exertion to get up, leading to strain or injury.
Bed height affects more than just physical well-being — it impacts the overall quality of life. An appropriately adjusted bed can foster independence, allowing our loved ones to get in and out of bed without assistance and promoting a sense of self-sufficiency and dignity.
Correct bed height can also enhance comfort, ensuring a restful night’s sleep and aiding in maintaining a regular sleep pattern — an essential aspect of healthy living as we age.
This is why adjustable home beds are so valuable when it comes to the comfort and safety of our loved ones, as they can easily accommodate each individual’s unique needs.
Who Can Benefit From an Adjustable Bed?
Adjustable beds can cater to a wide range of individuals:
- The elderly: The adjustability features make these beds a perfect choice for seniors.
- Individuals with mobility issues: Those with arthritis, back pain, or other mobility concerns can greatly benefit from adjustable beds, as they can reduce the physical strain of getting in and out of bed.
- Wheelchair users: With the low-height feature, transferring from a wheelchair to a bed becomes less strenuous.
- People recovering from surgery or injury: Adjustable beds can aid in proper rest and recovery, allowing for customized positioning that traditional beds can’t offer.
- Those with chronic conditions: People with conditions such as sleep apnea or acid reflux can adjust their sleeping position for maximum comfort.
With adjustable home hospital beds, you or your loved ones can access bed proper bed height to safely get in and out of bed and sleep comfortably throughout the night.
What Is the Ideal Bed Height?
When we speak of proper bed height, we mean that when seated on the edge of the bed, the elder’s feet should rest comfortably on the floor, with their knees and hips at right angles. This optimal bed height can help someone easily transfer from a standing to a sitting position and vice versa.
The less effort it takes to get in and out of bed, the safer it is for our loved ones. Not to mention, it can provide a significant psychological boost, as the ability to move with ease is closely tied to our sense of independence and self-reliance.
How To Choose the Right Adjustable Home Hospital Bed
When you’re selecting an adjustable home hospital bed for an elderly loved one, it’s crucial to consider their individual needs and circumstances. Are there any specific mobility issues you need to address? Will they need to transfer from a wheelchair to the bed?
Answering these questions is key to ensuring that your chosen bed matches their requirements perfectly, helping to support their comfort and foster independence.
At Transfer Master, we’ve developed a range of hospital-grade beds designed specifically for the home that focus on these unique needs, helping your loved ones age in place with dignity.
The Supernal Hi-Low
Our popular Supernal Hi-Low combines a full-featured reclining bed with elegance and comfort.
Available in Twin, Full, and Queen, this bed comes with a super low height setting for easy self-transfer and an excellent height range for ultimate flexibility. It’s designed to look like a regular bed, allowing our customers to maintain their dignity in their homes.
Night Rider
The Night Rider is a lightweight, comfortable, and affordable 3-function hospital bed. This model is also available in Twin, Full, and Queen — you can also pair it with a Companion for a Dual King.
The Night Rider has a maximum height range for flexibility and side retainer bars to keep the mattress from sliding. This feature guarantees easy self-transfer while ensuring safety and comfort.
Bariatric Beds: Night Rider HD & SHD Bariatric Bed
For those who require a sturdier option, our Night Rider HD and SHD bariatric beds offer reinforced versions of the Night Rider, designed to hold a weight of 600 to 750 pounds. These models are height adjustable from around 13.5″ to 23.5″, and the side retainer bars are a standard feature to keep the mattress secure.
All Transfer Master beds come equipped with user-friendly hand controls for easy self-reliance, encouraging the active lifestyle that our users value.
How To Lower a Transfer Master Bed
Our beds are designed not just for comfort and safety but they’re also designed to be easy to use. Lowering a Transfer Master bed is a straightforward process to encourage self-reliance.
Here’s how to help lower our beds:
- Ensure the user is safely out of the bed.
- Take the hand control, which is intuitively designed for effortless use.
- Find the button for the “Hi-Low” adjustment (usually a double arrow up and down symbol).
- Press and hold the down arrow until the bed lowers to the desired height.
- Release the button once the bed is at the appropriate height.
Remember, the goal is to have the bed low enough so that when your loved one is sitting on the edge, their feet rest comfortably on the floor. This feature is designed to provide flexibility, safety, and independence for our users.
The simplicity of this process can help encourage healthy living and an active lifestyle, even as we age. We believe that maintaining a sense of normalcy, especially for those adapting to mobility aids, contributes significantly to an individual’s overall well-being. By offering hospital-grade beds designed to look like regular beds, we help our customers age gracefully in place.
The Bottom Line
Choosing the right bed for your elderly loved one involves careful consideration, particularly regarding bed height and adaptability. Having a height-adjustable bed that accommodates their unique needs significantly contributes to their comfort, independence, and safety.
Transfer Master beds, designed with an emphasis on promoting an active lifestyle and preserving dignity, offer a reliable solution to this critical aspect of caregiving.
Ready to find the right bed for your loved one? Contact us to speak to a bed expert today.
Sources:
Preventing Falls at Home: Room by Room | National Institute on Aging
Head of bed elevation to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: a systematic review | PMC
The influence of head-of-bed elevation in patients with obstructive sleep apnea | PMC
