A Hospital Bed Benefits The Caregiver As Much As Their Loved One
We all love our beds. We often feel like Goldilocks — some don’t want a soft bed, some don’t want a hard bed, but whatever our preference, it has to be just right. When it’s broken in, our beds are comfortable, it’s our haven, the place we go to relax. But when aging parents or disabled spouses are no longer independent and must be assisted in bed with tasks, you must take other things into consideration.
Because care of your loved ones often starts and ends at the bed, it is essential that you get your day off to a good start. Having a hospital bed can allow you, the caregiver, and your loved ones to do those everyday tasks safer and with less effort. This can save you a lot of time and stress. It can also prevent an injury, to you or your loved one.
Here are Three Ways A Hospital Bed Is Of Benefit To You At Home:
The hospital bed is compact.
It is twin-size which allows you to reach your loved one without straining to get to them. A caregiver standing on the side of a bed larger than a twin-size and reaching to turn their loved one from side to side and reposition them in bed is working too hard. It is difficult to help with dressing, bathing in bed, and diaper changes when you are having difficulty reaching them. You are putting yourself at risk for injury.
The head and foot of the bed are adjustable.
Because the head and foot are adjustable, you can change the positioning of the bed to fit the need you have. There are some activities that must be done with the head elevated. Raising the head of the bed eliminates the need for stacks of pillows under the head when helping with feeding. Elevating the foot of the bed, eliminates stacking pillows under the legs which often do not stay in place when trying to control swelling in the legs.
The height of the bed can be adjusted.
Because the height of bed can be raised or lower, you can change the height to relieve back strain. Many caregivers bend over for long periods of time when helping with a bed bath or helping with dressing or diaper changes. This can put a terrible strain on the lower back. Raising the height of the bed allows the caregiver to work in a more upright position. Raising or lowering the height of the bed also helps to increase safety when getting them in and out the bed.
So if you are wondering if your parents or spouse can benefit from a hospital bed, think a little deeper. Ask yourself, “Can I benefit from them having a hospital bed?” As the caregiver, you must first take care of yourself. Protecting your body from injury and finding ways of working smarter is important. Talk to their doctor.
Click here for guidelines from the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to determine if your loved one qualifies for a hospital bed.
Today’s blog is inspired by a caregiver question to the call-in line of Finding A Foothold. To hear this questions and other challenges from caregivers in our community, please check out the website and Episode 4: Three Steps to Developing a Realistic Plan for Caregiving. If you have a question, please call and allow this community to share hope and tips you can use. Your question may inspire our next blog! Please subscribe to the Finding A Foothold podcast.
Consuela Marshall, Occupational Therapist.
Disclaimer: The podcast and blog are intended to provide basic information so that you can become a more informed caregiver. The information presented is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not meant to serve as medical advice or replace consultation with any health care providers you regularly engage with. Transmission or receipt of any of this information is not intended to, and does not, create a therapist-patient relationship. This information is not provided in the course of a therapist-patient relationship and is not intended to constitute medical advice or to substitute for obtaining medical advice from a physician or therapist licensed in the state where your family may reside. We encourage everyone to consult with your physician or therapist to see if they are appropriate and safe for you.