Are you shopping for a home medical bed? These vital pieces of medical equipment are needed for folks who are home bound for various reasons. Medical beds might be essential for someone recovering from an illness or procedure, and they're often also used by people receiving hospice care. Getting the right home medical bed to suit your needs means carefully evaluating numerous factors. Can insurance help cover the costs? Do you need extra supplies? What are the different types of home medical beds you can get? And are you better off buying or renting? Your doctor or healthcare advocate can help point you in the right direction of choosing the best medical bed. In the meantime, read on for important questions and answers that can help you learn more about choosing your best option.
There are several options out there for home medical beds. Most people with go with a basic bed though because this is the most affordable and easy to find. More expensive beds allow users to adjust the back and leg height, and other beds offer different kinds of padding and adjustments for enhanced comfort. You can also get medical beds that are either partially or fully electric.
This really depends on the type of insurance you have. For instance, all people with Medicare part B coverage can have the bed covered because it falls under the category of durable medical equipment. This does not mean all insurance providers will. Be sure to check with yours to see whether they will cover it and how much.
The sheets are obviously a given here, though you can really use just any twin sheets with this. However, it is usually a good idea to buy a pad if the person who will use the bed has any sort of incontinence issues as this will preserve the mattress. From there, it is simply a matter of what you want to do with the bed. For instance, if you are concerned about bed sores, then you may want to get a pressure relief pad.
The real difference here is in how many functions the bed can perform. For semi-electric beds, there are only two options -- up and down. With full electric there are three -- up, down, and moving the entire bed. The best adjustable beds for seniors depend on unique needs.
Depending on the availability in your local area, you should be able to rent a home medical bed instead of having to buy it. If you will be using insurance to help cover the cost then you will need to see what your insurance provider will cover to determine which is the right option for you.
There is really no perfect answer to this question. Some people prefer bedrooms where there is more privacy, while others prefer common areas where they aren't isolated from family. Most medical beds go in the lower levels of homes so patients don't need to worry about walking up and down stairs.
There are a few options for getting the best medical beds. One is to go to your local medical supply store. Chances are they will have them there and if not, they can usually give you an idea of where in the area you can go. The other option is to go online and order one that can be delivered to your home.
It is also a good idea to look at the specifications of the bed when purchasing. You want to make sure you pay attention to the weight limit and other factors. Also, if needed, it may be a good idea to look for one that has hand rails.