Last Updated on June 19, 2024 by Frank Davis
A hospital bed, in contrast to standard beds found in most homes, is specifically designed to provide a secure, stable, and comfortable environment for rest, healing, and recovery. Hospital beds are generally twin-sized beds that can be raised and lowered as well as a moveable head and foot. These beds can be wheeled around and equipped with adjustable bed rails to make them safer for patients.
In most hospice settings, it is common to have a hospital bed. Your bed may be replaced by a hospital bed, depending on the type of care you may need. A primary reason for this change is that it is more convenient to provide hospice care within a hospital bed. Hospital beds have many advantages that make them ideal for both hospitals and hospices.
In this article, we will discuss the advantages and reasons why a hospital bed is an excellent choice to receive hospice care.
Reduces the Risk of Falls
A hospital bed has side rails on both sides that can be adjusted to prevent the patient from falling out of the bed, and they may also be used to facilitate safe entry or exit from the bed. Stable railings are important to hold onto, because it assist’s the individual if he or she has difficulty getting up. This is especially important for those who are unable to stand as easily such as the elderly.
A hospital bed is typically lowered for two primary reasons. During sleep, the bed is lowered in order to prevent any damage in case the patient falls out of bed. Additionally, the bed is lowered so the patient cannot exit the bed easily, reducing the risk of a patient falling out of bed and suffering an injury.
Aids Caregiver in Positioning
For the hospice caregiver, it is helpful to have a hospital bed that is easily adjustable so that they can assist you when you are getting out of bed. This will make it easy for them to reach and avoid abnormal positions that may strain their backs when they are trying to give a bed shower, change the linen, or help reposition. Having a hospital bed just makes it so much easier.
Most Hospice Home Health Aides or CNA’s know the proper body mechanics on how to to move or transfer a patient. One strategy that they are taught is to ask the patient to assist when possible. Although your loved one may not be ambulatory, his upper body strength may be sufficient to assist in rolling to the side or repositioning him. This provides a huge help to the caretaker.
Prevention of Bed Sores and Ulcers
Apart from the standard comfort mattresses that are used most often, there is also another type of mattress which is called an alternate pressure mattress. These mattresses are characterized by a series of chambers that are filled with varying amounts of air. In order to prevent ulcers from developing, the air pressure usually moves several times an hour across the mattress surface to relieve pressure from various parts of the body. Pressure-relieving mattresses are used mostly on hospice patients who are at high risk of pressure ulcers, like those in intensive care, who can’t move on their own and are often dependent on a ventilator.
Helps With Certain Types of Medical Conditions
There are certain hospice patients who may require bed positioning that is not possible when they are using a standard bed. For example, some patients may require their head to be raised more than 30 degrees due to congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary disease, or problems with aspiration. It is suggested that some individuals should consider adjustable beds because they are made with the safety and health of the user in mind. It may be more comfortable and safer than lying on a recliner for sleeping and sitting, whereas electric hospital beds assist with positioning and help to promote optimum blood circulation.
Conclusion
People who suffer from certain medical conditions may prefer to remain at home. Hospital beds offer the benefit of allowing you to continue to live at home, even if you have limitations regarding mobility or health. A few reasons why hospital beds are important is because it prevents falls, assists the caregiver with repositioning the patient, prevents ulcers, and can assist with some medical conditions.
It is possible that you may not enjoy the idea of hospice changing from your regular bed to a hospital bed, either because it does not appeal to you or you associate it with the hospital, for whatever reason it may be. It is impossible to deny the fact that hospital beds can be beneficial for your health, especially if you have a medical problem. Hospital beds allow us to stay in the comfort of our homes and improves on the quality of care that can be given.
