Key Questions to Ask When Ordering Medical Bed rails

Every day, individuals around the world are making the admirable choice to continue living independently and comfortably in their own homes as they age. An essential part of this journey to aging in place is ensuring a safe and supportive home environment.

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Bed rails for seniors, in particular, play a crucial role in this effort. They serve not only as safety tools but also as an essential means for seniors to maintain their dignity and independence. In this article, we will guide seniors and their caregivers through the process of choosing the right bed rails to match their specific needs and circumstances.

Why Are Bed Rails Important?

When we think about aging comfortably at home, it&#;s not just about comfort &#; it&#;s about safety and freedom, too. Bed rails are an often-overlooked aspect of home safety for seniors. They serve multiple purposes, like preventing nighttime falls, providing support for getting in and out of bed, and assisting with repositioning while in bed.

Imagine navigating your home independently, maintaining your daily routines and lifestyle while knowing that an added layer of safety is there to support you. That&#;s what bed rails can offer.

By preventing falls, bed rails play a crucial role in avoiding injuries that could limit mobility and reduce quality of life. But beyond safety, bed rails can also provide a physical support system, aiding in mobility around the bed and reducing strain on the muscles and joints.

Bed rails are not just about the physical support they offer; they contribute to a sense of security and confidence for seniors living alone or spending substantial time in bed. They can make the difference between a restless night worrying about a potential fall and a good night&#;s sleep.

What To Consider When Choosing Bed Rails

Selecting the right bed rails involves more than a simple online search &#; it requires understanding your individual needs, bed type, ease of use, and the safety features on offer. Let&#;s delve into these factors together.

Individual Needs

Every senior is unique, and so are their needs. The right bed rail should be chosen based on an individual&#;s physical condition, mobility level, and personal comfort. For someone with limited mobility or strength, a bed rail with an ergonomic design for easy gripping and support might be necessary.

For those with conditions such as arthritis, a padded bed rail can provide additional comfort. You should also consider the height and weight of the user to ensure the bed rail can provide adequate support.

Side rail covers, like our bamboo rail cover, can help your bed rails blend in more with the rest of your room. This way, you can benefit from the added safety while still enjoying the look and feel of your home.

Bed Type Compatibility

Compatibility with the existing bed is a practical aspect that can&#;t be overlooked. Some bed rails are designed for standard home beds, while others fit better with hospital-style beds. Checking the bed type, mattress size, and thickness can prevent compatibility issues down the line.

Many of our beds at Transfer Master, including the Supernal 5, the Supernal Hi-Low, and our Heavy Duty and Super Heavy Duty bariatric beds, are specifically designed for easy attachment of bed rails.

Ease of Use

Independence is about making day-to-day tasks easier and safer. Bed rails should be easy to use, with intuitive mechanisms for lowering and raising them. They should also be easy to install and adjust.

Installation and Safety Features

Proper installation is essential to ensure the bed rail&#;s effectiveness and safety. Rails should be securely attached to the bed frame to prevent them from becoming loose over time. Safety features, such as childproof locks, can also be crucial, especially if grandchildren are frequent visitors.

It&#;s not just about choosing a bed rail; it&#;s about finding a supportive companion for your journey toward aging in place.

Choosing the right bed rails can contribute significantly to seniors&#; safety and independence. By considering individual needs, bed type compatibility, ease of use, and installation and safety features, seniors and their caregivers can make informed decisions, ensuring comfort, dignity, and independence in their homes.

What Are the Different Types of Bed Rails?

Just as each senior has unique needs, bed rails also come in various types to meet these diverse requirements. Here, we introduce three popular types of bed rails: bedside handle rails, crossbar bed rails, and half-length and full-length bed rails.

Bedside Handle Rails

Bedside handle rails are compact and generally used to provide support when getting in and out of bed. They&#;re often portable and easily adjustable, making them a versatile choice. These types of rails are designed for those who need minimal support and for those who travel frequently, as they&#;re relatively easy to disassemble and transport.

Crossbar Bed Rails

Crossbar bed rails are usually designed with multiple bars, providing a larger area for seniors to grip. These are particularly beneficial for seniors with weak grip strength or those with conditions like arthritis. Crossbar bed rails offer more extensive support while moving in and out of bed and can help seniors reposition themselves while in bed.

Half-Length and Full-Length Bed Rails

Half-length and full-length bed rails provide comprehensive support and safety, covering a substantial portion or the entire length of the bed to significantly reduce the risk of falls during sleep. These rails are especially suited for seniors experiencing disorientation or restlessness during sleep or those with higher fall risks due to medical conditions.

At Transfer Master, we offer beds with standard half-rail brackets and seven-inch extension brackets, providing adjustable rails for personalized needs.

While full-length rails might seem to be more supportive, it&#;s important to keep in mind that they should be used with caution. They can pose entrapment risks, especially when combined with an ill-fitting mattress, leading to safety concerns.

It&#;s crucial to match the rails with a suitable bed and mattress. For additional support, we recommend using a pair of half-length rails on each side of the bed as a safer alternative.

Seeking Medical and Professional Advice

Before settling on a particular type of bed rail, it&#;s important to seek advice from medical or healthcare professionals. They can assess your physical condition, mobility, and specific needs to help you identify the best type of bed rail for you.

Furthermore, professional advice can help highlight any potential risks associated with certain types of bed rails and make sure they are used properly for optimal safety and support.

The Bottom Line

Choosing the right bed rails isn&#;t a decision to be taken lightly. It directly affects safety, comfort, and independence &#; factors essential to the journey of aging in place. By understanding the different types of bed rails and considering your individual needs, bed compatibility, ease of use, and safety features, you can ensure a choice that promotes a safer, more comfortable living environment.

Remember, bed rails are more than a safety tool. They are aids to living independently, aids that contribute to the peace of mind and dignity of those using them. With the right bed rails, seniors can continue to live their lives confidently in the familiarity and comfort of their homes.

At Transfer Master, we are here to help you continue living independently and comfortably at home, regardless of your unique and individual needs. After all, aging in place is not just about staying at home &#; it&#;s about living there, safely and comfortably, with dignity and independence.

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from defeng.

To learn more about hospital beds, mattresses, and choosing hospital bed accessories for yourself or someone you care for, contact us today.

Sources:

Preventing Falls at Home: Room by Room | National Institute on Aging

Maintaining mobility and preventing disability are key to living independently as we age | National Institute on Aging

A Guide to Bed Safety Bed Rails in Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Home Health Care: The Facts | FDA

A bedroom is our sanctuary. A place where we go on retreat to unwind and relax from the stresses of the day. Although we aren&#;t awake for most it, it is unsurprising that this hideaway is where we spend most of our time. In fact, the average person spends almost 26 years sleeping in their bedroom. That&#;s 9,490 days or 227,760 hours! This doesn&#;t even factor in the seven additional years we spend in our beds just trying to get to sleep!

The importance of getting adequate sleep is something we can all agree on, and this remains true the older we get. Unfortunately for many older adults, bed mobility challenges become a real problem that prevents much-needed sleep. Simple problems like joint pain, decreased flexibility, night-terrors, and Sundowning Syndrome can contribute to dangerous falls from bed. When these challenges present themselves, it can become impossible to enjoy a good night&#;s rest.

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The same also can also be said for caregivers. A caregiver is all too familiar with restless nights spent worrying about a loved one who is at risk for falling out of bed. A popular and effective way to combat such challenges and instill peace of mind for both loved one and caregiver is through the use of bed rails.

Bed rails come in all shapes and sizes and can be used for various purposes. Such a large range of options can make it difficult to pinpoint the bed rail most effective for your situation. When looking to rent or purchase a bed rail for yourself or for a loved one, it is important to have a basic understanding of how bed rails work.

An essential piece to pre-bed rail purchase homework is learning about entrapment. Entrapment is a situation where an individual can become caught in the tight spaces around the rail. Reputable manufacturers ensure that their bed rails meet guidelines set forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for reducing the seven risks of entrapment. As a showing of compliance, bed rails that meet FDA Guidelines will be accompanied by manufacturer recommendations regarding bed types and mattress thicknesses. If a product listing is not forthcoming about such recommendations, it is safe to assume that the proper steps were not taken to comply with entrapment guidelines. To reduce the risk of entrapment, it is crucial to follow the recommendations set forth by the manufacturer regarding bed type, mattress thickness, and rail placement.

With so much to think about, it can be intimidating trying to find the perfect bed rail. To make the process easier, we have created our Bed Rail Buying Guide, a six-question quiz that will help narrow down the safest and most effective bed rails for your situation. But before taking the quiz, let&#;s go over five main questions you should ask yourself when buying a bed rail.

What is the intended purpose of the bed rail?

All bed rails are designed for three purposes:

1. 1. To assist the user in repositioning him or herself while lying in bed
   2. To reduce the risk of falling out of bed during the night
   3. To provide reliable assistance when transferring to and from the bed

It would be unfair to say that every bed rail completely satisfies all three purposes. To further illustrate this point, we can assign most bed rails to one of two categories: 1) safety railings or 2) bedside handles.

Safety Railings:

Safety railings are intended to decrease the risk from falling out of bed during the night. These railings generally span the length of the bed and are most often associated with what is seen on hospital beds. These rails are most commonly correlated with long-term care.

Bedside Handles:

Bedside handles are generally smaller with a lower-profile design. Their intended purpose is to offer sturdy support when transferring in and out of bed. Bed handles are usually used by those recovering from injury or surgery and need short-term assistance.

You may find yourself in a category needing both fall prevention and transfer assistance. For such occasions, we recommend the EZ Adjust Bed Rail, the most versatile bed rail available. This bed rail can adjust in length from a bedside handle at 26 inches long to a full-sized safety railing of 42&#; long. With a versatile adjustment range, the EZ Adjust Bed Rail can offer both full fall protection and transfer assistance.

What type of bed do you own?

Bed rails are designed to be used on traditional flat surfaces as to ensure that all possible zones of entrapment are mitigated. This means that bed rails are most safely used on traditional beds with mattresses that sit on box springs or slats.

Institutional beds (or long-term care beds) that pivot at specific joints can present entrapment dangers caused by the different angles in the mattress. Stander&#;s new EZ Click LTC Bed Handle (shown right) is the only bed rail that overcomes all seven entrapment zones on an institutional bed. The EZ Click LTC Bed Handle clamps onto the metal bed frame and comes in a pair of two bed handles.

Hospital beds are generally accompanied by bed rails that are produced by the same manufacturer and designed specifically for use on that bed. Regular adjustable beds, or beds with platforms that adjust the angle of mattress that are commonly found in homes, can void a bed rail&#;s safety measure and create additional zones of entrapment. For such adjustable beds, we recommend using an alternative solution. The Security Pole and Curve Grab Bar has been used for nearly 20 years to provide transfer assistance in and out of bed. The tension-mounted design allows it to be temporarily installed next to a bed and supports up to 300 pounds.

How thick is your mattress?

Another way to help avoid entrapment is by following the manufacturer&#;s recommended mattress heights. Because most bed rails are installed below the mattress, the mattress thickness can affect the level of protection provided by the bed rail.

For example, If a bed rail intended for a mattress 8-16 inches thick is installed on a mattress of 20 inches, the bed rail will provide an insufficient amount of railing above the mattress to effectively prevent falls. Likewise, a bed rail purchased for a mattress that is too short for its intended use can create gaps below the railing. 

Reputable bed rail manufacturers will clearly indicate intended mattress thicknesses on product pages and packaging. To ensure compatibility, be sure to measure your mattress thickness before purchasing.

What is your preferred weight capacity?

Just like any piece of durable medical equipment, bed rails are designed and meticulously tested for defined weight capacities. The majority of bed rails have weight capacities of 300 pounds, but we recommend double checking product listings and ensuring adequate weight support before purchasing.

If you are in need of bariatric support, there are various bariatric bed rails available that support up to 400 pounds. For instance, the Stander Prime Bed Rail Series features two bariatric options: a full-sized safety railing and a bedside support handle. These bariatric rails can even be accessorized with a swiveling over-the-bed table!

Will you need a bed rail away from home?

We often see bed rails as permanent fixtures of the home, so what are we to do when traveling on vacation? There are several bed rail options designed to be small, foldable, and lightweight to make it easy to take with you on vacation. If you are planning on traveling frequently, we recommend purchasing a portable travel rail separate from the rail that is used at home.

The Bed Rail Advantage Traveler for example folds in half to fit in a suitcase while also supporting up to 400 pounds. If you are looking for something lighter and smaller, the Bedside Econorail weighs just 1.5 pounds and can be broken down in seconds using a simple snap-button assembly.

The Bottom Line

Bed rails can be effective tools for providing peace of mind, better sleep, and safer mobility for anyone needing assistance around the bed. Like any assistive device, it&#;s important to find the right fit for your needs and environment. For that reason, we suggest paying close attention to the manufacturer&#;s recommendations regarding bed type, mattress height, and weight capacity to find the bed rail that best aligns with your needs and your bed.

For further assistance, don&#;t forget to take our Bed Rail Buying Guide quiz, where we can match you with your best bed rail options in less than a minute.  Over the years, Stander has innovated 12 bed rails with more in the works! We pride ourselves in providing innovative, attractive options that cover ever need and ever budget. If you have questions about any of our bed rails, please reach out to us using our chat tool in the lower right hand corner. Our team is well-equipped to answer any questions to help you find your perfect bedside helper. Happy bed rail hunting!

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