When we buy a bed, our first thoughts are often about getting a nice rest at night. While it’s true that getting good sleep is just as important for the elderly as for everyone else, sometimes older people need a bed with a few more features.

A senior might like a bed chair, which is a chair that transforms into a bed. They may rely on a bed rail or a hoist if they have greater mobility difficulties. Or perhaps they also want an epilepsy bed alarm if they have night-time seizures.

Another option that can make a huge difference is a profiling bed – a highly adjustable bed, much like a hospital bed, for an older person’s own home. In this post, we’ll discuss what this sort of bed can do, why a senior might want one, and how they can get one.

What is a profiling bed or hospital bed for the home?

A profiling bed is designed to assist a person who spends much of their time in bed, rather than only sleeping in it. It has two key sets of features…

Raising and lowering sections of the bed

When an older person is bedbound due to a short- or long-term medical condition, they’ll often want to sit up in bed. With a profiling bed, they can do this by raising the section of the bed near the headboard. In other words, they can get into a sitting position even if they are not able to sit up independently. When the older person wants to lie down again, they can simply lower that section of the bed again.

Other sections of the bed may also raise and lower for extra comfort and assistance. For example, the portion of the bed by the feet might raise to allow fluid to drain in cases of oedema.

Raising and lowering the entire bed

Typically, the whole profiling bed also raises and lowers to assist both bed users and carers.

A family member or carer assisting a person in bed might strain their back bending over, especially if they are performing lengthy care tasks. A profiling bed helps by rising up so the person in bed is at a more comfortable height for a carer to reach.

On the reverse side, a profiling bed often lowers almost all of the way to the ground. This feature is designed to help people who are at risk of falling out of bed. If their bed is almost at floor level, they’re less likely to be injured by rolling out of it.

Additional features

A profiling bed might also include other functionalities or elements, such as railings that also help prevent a person from falling out of the bed.

Why might an older person need a profiling bed in their own home?

It’s clear to see that a profiling bed can be useful in many situations.

If an elderly person spends most of their time in bed, a profiling bed can help them feel more comfortable. If they have significant medical needs, the profiling bed also makes it easier for the older person to be cared for at home. That’s good for family members who provide care as well as the person using the bed.

Overall, these benefits could potentially add up to a major impact – they could help keep an older person living at home rather than moving to a care home or hospice.

Can you get a hospital bed for your home for free?

It may be possible for an older person to get a profiling bed to use at home. You can see if you’re eligible by scheduling something called a home assessment. Start the process by applying for home equipment for disabled people, or try speaking to a GP or medical professional.

The home assessment will also consider what other adaptations could help make the home safer and more accessible.

Can you buy a profiling bed for an older person’s home?

It’s also possible to purchase profiling beds through specialist retailers. If an elderly person isn’t eligible for a free bed through the NHS, or if they just want more choice about the type of bed they get, this might be a good option.

The charity Living Made Easy provides a listing of profiling beds that are available, and it allows you to compare different models with one another.

If an older person needs help with funding the purchase of a profiling bed, they can ask someone such as a medical professional, social worker or carer to submit a grant application for them to Independence at Home. Note that you cannot apply for help from this charity yourself. A health or social care professional needs to do the application for you.

It's also important to remember that a profiling bed needs to be purchased with a profiling mattress. A mattress from a typical bed can’t be reused with a profiling bed.

Lastly, don’t forget that a senior purchasing a profiling bed is likely eligible for zero-rated VAT. Talk with the company you’re purchasing from to ensure this is applied correctly.

Can you hire a hospital bed to use at home?

Sometimes, an older person might need a profiling bed for just a short time. This might be because of a short-term injury or health condition. Another possibility is that a senior may be receiving palliative or end-of-life care at home.

In these situations, purchasing a bed may not be the most practical option. Fortunately, there are businesses online that allow you to rent a profiling bed, usually by the week. Your options may vary according to your location. Start by searching online, but make sure to check reviews on a site like Trustpilot before you hire your bed.

How a personal alarm from SureSafe can protect seniors who are bedbound

As you can see, a profiling bed aims to keep people safe while they have decreased mobility or poorer health. For example, features such as railings and lowering functionalities can help to prevent seniors from experiencing dangerous falls.

However, risks remain when an older person is unable to get out of bed to call for help. Having a phone nearby can help, but what happens if a phone gets accidentally knocked to the floor or gets put down just a little too far away?

The solution is a personal alarm for the elderly. This device can be worn in the form of a talking pendant or a wrist alarm that resembles a smart watch. Either way, it’s always within reach.

Another problem with phones is that a senior suffering from a health crisis may be too ill or confused to unlock a screen or dial a number. But with a personal alarm from SureSafe, an older person can simply press one button to call for help. You can choose whether you’d like the alarm to call an expert response centre or the phone number of a family member or friend when its button is pressed.

What’s more, many alarms also have a fall detection function. If an elderly person does fall out of bed despite efforts to prevent it, the alarm will sense the fall and call for help by itself.

Ready to consider a personal alarm for yourself or an older loved one? Reach out to us at SureSafe, a leading provider of personal alarms in the UK with 4.8 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. You can call our expert team at 0808 189 1671, speak to us through live chat, or request a call back.