The 5 Best Bariatric Beds [Ranked]
Are you looking for a bed that provides bariatric patients greater support and comfort?
If yes, a bariatric bed should is an ideal option.
According to RehabMart, by definition,
“A bariatric hospital bed is an extra heavy-duty and extra wide bed that is able to reach 54 inches wide, 88 inches long, with a weight capacity up to 1200 pounds to safely accommodate larger individuals in hospitals, clinics, rehab centers or at home.
The hospital beds are built to bear the capacity that is needed for those who are obese, and to help prevent injuries or bedsores.”
While a standard bed may accommodate an overweight person, a bariatric bed offers a multitude of benefits to provide comfort, enhanced safety, and accommodation of different types of medical treatments (Source).
According to HME-Business, these are some important buying considerations:
- Make a site visit / understand the patient’s premises
- Perform an appropriate assessment of the patient by asking them questions
- Ensure that the bed is rated correctly to fit the person’s weight
- Be certain the bed is wide enough
- Be sure to consider beds with suitable versatility that are readily adjustable
- Teach the patient and the health care provider how to use bed
While bariatric patients need special attention to treatment and prevention, a bariatric bed can prove to be highly instrumental to their speedy recovery and optimal comfort.
We highlighted some of the best options from Amazon- but Home Products For you has a diverse range of electric bariatric beds you can examine.
Contents
Comparing Them
- COMPACT PATIENT LIFTER: Fits underneath most beds in the lowest position so it can be used at home, nursing homes and medical facilities, even in small rooms. Also capable of floor lifts.
- This bariatric system provides alternating pressure to optimize pressure redistribution for patients with up to Stage IV pressure ulcers
- Assists individuals weighing up to 1000 lbs. in changing positions while in bed and aid in transferring in and out of bed.
These beds are designed to provide quality, individualized home care. You can watch this video to learn how a bariatric bed operates.
How They Work
Buying Guide
Bariatric bed selection is a crucial decision to make, based on the differences in the actual nature of the patient’s requirement.
- Night positioning: For any bariatric patient, a good night-time positioning plays an immensely important role.
- Respiration accommodation: Since many bariatric patients experience respiratory problems, you’d need to make sure that your bariatric bed is positioned well which would allow to the patient breathe better.
- Weight capacity: The right weight capacity is a huge issue. Remember to ensure that the bed is thoroughly tested, not only for weight capacity but for width and depth as well.
- Construction: Also, check out bed frames’ construction to consider overall durability/toughness (guarantee, weight limit etc).
- Extra features: Top of the line bariatric beds come with more elements and features. It’s also important to note that different types of these beds come with their own advantages and disadvantages, so you’d need to ensure that your bed would address all the requirements of your patient.
- Guarantee/Warranty: And finally, these beds aren’t cheap, so make sure to buy one that manufacturers stand behind if you experience any kind of technical difficulties.
More Info
A bariatric bed is a heavy-duty, specialized bed designed to cater to bariatric patients.
A lot of these beds come with the ability to support 700 pounds or more, offering more room for the patient.
These less physically demanding beds come equipped with a solid-deck design that doesn’t have any springs but still has the ability to adjust the mattress foot and head for the patient. Similar to hospital beds, these products feature casters which allow it to be wheeled to different areas of the care facility or home.
One of the biggest advantages of these beds is that they not only meet the needs of bariatric patients but also enable caregivers to offer optimal assistance to the patients.
Bariatric beds also lower the possibilities of injuries for both the patient and the caregiver, as they enhance the ability to handle and move the patient.
Necessary tasks like turning or moving the patient to prevent bedsores, transferring the patient to and from a chair or bed, providing support to the limbs of the patient while repositioning, assisting the patient in regular movements like using the bathroom or bathing etc become much easier with the help of these beds.
Bariatric Bed Frames
- THE ONLY BED FRAME YOU’LL EVER NEED - With the ability to support more than 8 times the weight of a traditional platform bed, the Super Heavy Duty SmartBase is built to stand the test of time and ideal for cosleeping families and plus-sized individuals
Bariatric bed frames refer to the frames which can support a higher overall total weight.
The average steel bed frames found in local furniture and mattress store are unable to accommodate this greater weight. Some of these frames come with easy-to-use pull pin systems that allow caregivers to comfortably expand the width of the bed frame to accommodate different patient girth, as well as, emergency transport through door frames.
Some frames also have a split frame design that promotes easy delivery into tight areas.
Most of these products come equipped with a set of handrails to enable smooth transportation together with locking casters that can be used to hold the bed in a stationary position if needed.
Full Electric Bariatric Bed
- FULL BARIATRIC BED PACKAGE: Designed for overweight, obese or larger patients this extra large fully electric motorized hospital bed includes everything you need, including the adjustable bed frame, a vinyl covered mattress, 2 locking and 2 unlocking casters (wheels), a large button remote controller and safety rails.
For the patients who’ve extremely restricted mobility, a full electric bariatric bed should be ideal.
It comes with a hand unit that can be used to electronically control positioning for bed height, upper body, and knee to provide maximum flexibility and comfort for both the patient and the caregiver.
Most of these products come with heavy steel plate together with a pan deck design that ensures additional strength while lowering bed weight.
These beds are equipped with all the amenities as the full-electric hospital bed, in a sturdier and wider package.
You can watch this video to learn some of their different, unique operational methods.
Bariatric Mattresses
- SUPERIOR COMFORT – This pressure redistribution mattress is made with low-risk patient comfort and safety in mind. Designed to distribute a patient's weight evenly across its surface to mitigate the formation of pressure ulcers, lesions and bed sores.
A bariatric mattress is specifically designed for medically obese and overweight people, highlighting certain construction features not found in general mattresses.
These features include cushions of air which includes static float, alternating pressure, and auto firm to shift weight and pressure to lower pressure ulcers and bedsores. Bariatric mattresses are made of foam instead of innerspring, offering a firmer foundation.
These mattresses sometimes also come with a waterproof exterior that protects the product from incontinence and other fluids. To get a clear understanding of bariatric mattress sizes, you can have a look at this size guide.
Bariatric Bed Sheets
- Comfortable contoured bed sheet for bariatric hospital bed
You may already know that bariatric mattresses aren’t the same size as a full, twin-size, king size, or queen size mattresses.
These are wider mattresses and thus, you should determine the mattress measurements before getting sheets. Usually, you’ll need to purchase a twin XL sheet to fit a bariatric mattress.
Sometimes, these sheets are also called extra-long twin or extended twin. When taking measurements of the mattress, be sure to do it with utmost perfection. If the fitted sheet is too short, it’d be impossible to stretch it.
And if the sheet is too long, it’d tend to drop to the floor which may trigger a trip hazard for everyone.
Also, if you want to increase the depth of the bariatric mattress, you should purchase a good foam topper to accomplish that goal.
How To Select A Used Bariatric Bed?
Many facilities, as well as, families purchase used bariatric beds based on price or certain features and not on bed quality and safety standards.
This practice often increases the risk of patient and caregiver injury. If you’re planning to buy a used bariatric bed, the first thing you should check is the maximum weight capacity of the bed.
These days, many manufacturers list the maximum patient weight, which makes it easier for buyers to decide about the appropriate patient weights for the bed. Next, you should check the height of the bed.
You should be able to raise the product to full working height to lower caregiver injury during different care procedures. The bed should also function properly when kept in a low position.
It’d reduce the distance a patient may fall to the floor and would make it easier for bariatric patients, who’re shorter in height, to transfer off the bed.
Next comes the functionalities of the side rails of the bed. Remember to properly evaluate them for functions like lowering, raising, and locking when kept in an upright position. Malfunctioning side rails heavily increase the risk for patient injury, falls etc.
If you need to change the side rails, be sure to obtain them from the bed’s actual manufacturer only.
Finally, thoroughly test the bed system. Check factors that can trigger fire including electrical arcing from damaged plugs, ill-fitting plugs, missing components in the wiring, overheated bed motors etc.
Bariatric Hospital Bed Dimensions
Many bariatric patients find it actually difficult to move, especially during any injury.
If you’re planning to buy a bariatric bed, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of the dimensions of these specialized beds. These beds can be found in 42 inches, 48 inches, 54 inches, and 60 inches width.
The length remains between 80-84 inches usually.
These heavy-duty products can support up to 1000 pounds. Though most of the key features remain similar for specific types of categories of these specialized beds, the actual price will change heavily depending on different factors.
The Cost Of A Bariatric Bed – Determining Factors
Bariatric beds range in prices to a good extent depending on what you’re looking for. Some of the most common factors that contribute to the price of such a bed include side rails and bed accessories. When it comes to side rails, if you go for the standard ones, you may not have to spend any additional amount.
But if you want to go for more advanced ones like split side rails, it’ll increase the cost. Also, if you want to have the side rail with built-in control panel, the price will go up. Any additional accessories you want to add to the bed will increase the price as well.
These include things like brake alarms, built-in weigh scales, IV poles etc. While the absolute maximum amount you could for a bariatric bed is much higher, you should be able to get a standard one at an affordable price from many good bariatric bed suppliers.
For instance, if you want a bariatric bed with lateral tilt coupled with all the possible bells and whistles, the price will go up heavily. In short, specialist models and the ones with lots of accessories will cost more.
