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Medical Beds

What To Consider When Upgrading From a Used to a New Hospital Bed

You have decided to upgrade to a new home hospital bed, but how do you know which bed is right for you or your loved one? Modern home hospital beds are sophisticated pieces of medical equipment with many different features. If you’re familiar with an older used bed, navigating the options available on modern beds can be bewildering.

At Transfer Master, we’ve helped hundreds of people to upgrade their home hospital beds, and in this article, we’ll answer some of the most common questions and concerns.

Why Do You Want To Upgrade Your Home Hospital Bed?

Before you choose a new bed, you should think about why you want to upgrade. It will help you to exclude unsuitable beds while ensuring that your new bed has all the features you need.

Common reasons for upgrading from an old used bed to a new adjustable bed include:

  • The old bed is worn out and no longer works properly.
  • You or someone you care for needs features that aren’t available on the old bed.
  • You need a bed that makes life easier for the bed’s occupant or their caregiver. For example, a height adjustment makes it easier for wheelchair users to transfer to and from the bed.
  • You would like a bed with easier-to-use adjustments and modern controls.

Whatever your reason for wanting a new bed, you should be able to answer the following questions before making a final decision.

Which Positioning Options Do You Need?

Modern home hospital beds integrate various position adjustments, including head, foot, tilt, and height adjustments. All of our hospital beds include head and foot adjustments, and more advanced options like the Supernal 5 also include height, tilt, and cardiac chair positioning.

The adjustments you need depend on your current condition, but it a good idea to plan for the future. You may be able to get into and out of bed without help today, but will that always be the case? It makes sense to think ahead so you don’t regret the lack of a height adjustment or other advanced features.

Are The Bed’s Adjustments Easy to Use?

There are two factors to consider where ease of use is concerned: how are the bed’s adjustments powered and how are they controlled.

Older and low-cost hospital beds feature manual adjustments: repositioning is muscle-powered via a crank or lever. Modern premium beds are equipped with electronic motors and easy-to-use remote controls; the bed’s occupant or a caregiver can operate any adjustment via a wired or wireless control unit or even by voice through a smart home integration.

All Transfer Master beds feature automatic motorized adjustments for all positions, a convenience that is not available on many older beds.

Do You Need a Dual King Adjustable Bed?

Do you share a bed with your partner? If so, you may want to upgrade to a Dual King home hospital bed. Dual Kings are king-sized beds with two sets of independent position adjustments. They allow each occupant to adjust the bed’s profile without disturbing their partner.

What is Your New Bed’s Weight Capacity?

Premium home hospital beds are incredibly sturdy, but every bed has a maximum weight capacity. Exceeding it can damage the mechanisms, motors, and structure. Here are a few considerations to help you to select the correct weight capacity for your bed:

  • For double, queen, and king beds, you must account for the weight of both occupants.
  • If you receive treatment on your bed, you may have to account for a caregiver or medical professional’s weight.
  • Don’t forget that a mattress adds weight too.

Our flagship bed, the Supernal 5, has a maximum weight capacity of 300 lbs. For heavier people, we also build bariatric beds that support up to 750 lbs.

Does Your Bed Need Side Rails?

Side rails are an optional accessory on hospital beds. Many of our customers don’t need them, but they are useful in several scenarios:

  • Bed rails provide a fixed and rigid point that makes it easier for people with mobility issues or bodily weakness to turn and reposition themselves.
  • They prevent falls.
  • They provide support when getting into and out of bed.

Although generally safe, bed rails can pose a risk to older people and others with limited mobility, especially when used with low-quality beds and mattresses. It is rare, but bed rails have caused injuries and even fatalities when patients become trapped or entangled. If you need bed rails, ensure that you buy a high-quality bed and a mattress with stiffened edges, such as our Supernal Sleep System Mattresses.

In this article, we’ve looked at some of the factors you should consider when upgrading from a used to a new hospital bed. If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to call or email a Transfer Master team member.

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About Transfer Master

Transfer Master has built electric adjustable hospital beds for the home and medical facility since 1993. We started with a simple goal that hospital beds should allow wheelchair users to transfer independently in and out of bed. Thirty years later, our customers are still at the center of everything we do. You’ll feel the difference.