For seniors, individuals recovering from surgery, and anyone who requires ongoing in-home care, a hospital bed is a convenient and flexible replacement for a regular bed. Unfortunately, you can’t simply pick one up at your local furniture store. In fact, you may need a prescription to get a hospital bed.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the challenges of obtaining a hospital bed then offer a practical and stylish alternative.
Here’s Why You Need a Prescription
Hospital beds are considered Durable Medical Equipment (DME) for insurance purposes. That means if you plan to use your insurance (or something like Medicare) to pay for it, you’ll need a prescription from a doctor to get a hospital bed.
The process for getting a hospital bed with a prescription may vary depending on the insurance you plan to use. In most cases, however, you’ll need a doctor to submit documentation of the patient’s medical condition and the specific reasons they need a hospital bed, such as:
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To facilitate repositioning to alleviate pain and prevent pressure sores
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So caregivers can more easily access the patient to administer treatment
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To enable elevation of the head or feet to reduce swelling and inflammation
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For improved patient safety (like side rails or electronic alerts)
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To reduce strain and make it easier for the patient to get into and out of the bed safely
Once you have a prescription, you can work with your doctor or a medical equipment supplier to purchase the hospital bed. If you choose not to use insurance, you may be able to pay for the bed out of pocket but that could cost you anywhere from $500 to $5,000, depending on the model and its features.
5 Reasons to Consider an Adjustable Bed Instead
Hospital beds certainly have their benefits but, depending on the situation, other solutions might work just as well (or better). For example, an adjustable bed offers improved comfort and convenience over a regular bed with a more traditional look than a hospital bed.
Let’s explore some of the reasons an adjustable bed is worth considering over a hospital bed.
1. Stylish aesthetics
The main benefit of adjustable beds is that they are, in fact, real beds. Hospital beds, on the other hand, have a utilitarian aesthetic better suited to hospitals than homes. If you’re looking for something that will blend seamlessly into your bedroom setup, an adjustable bed is the way to go. They come in a wide range of styles to suit individual preferences and once you put the linens on, you won’t even know the difference.
2. Improved comfort
Hospital beds are valuable because they’re easier to access than many regular beds but you can enjoy similar features and customizable comfort with an adjustable bed. At the touch of a button, you can elevate the head of the bed to comfortably read or watch TV. Many models even offer dual adjustability—you can lower the foot of the bed to make it easier to get into and out of it.
3. Therapeutic support
Anyone who suffers from chronic pain, poor circulation, or swelling can benefit from the enhanced support and customizable comfort an adjustable bed has to offer. Hospital beds are designed to meet the needs of patients but the customization options may be limited. With an adjustable bed, you can customize the settings to deliver the support and comfort that works for you. Some models even enable you to program your personalized settings for one-touch convenience.
4. Discreet and versatile
For some seniors and people who require in-home care, making the switch to a hospital bed can be a distressing experience. By swapping out a regular bed for an adjustable model, you can maintain a sense of normalcy without sacrificing support and customizable comfort. It’s also worth noting that hospital beds are generally designed for a single person while adjustable beds come in a wide range of sizes to accommodate multiple sleepers.
5. Long-term investment
You could spend the same amount of money on an adjustable bed as you might on a hospital bed but what you get out of it could differ drastically. The downside of purchasing a hospital bed is its limited long-term use. If you’ll only need the bed temporarily (such as for post-surgical recovery) or want to avoid the hassle of having to store it later, it’s worth considering an alternative. An adjustable bed is much more versatile—you’ll be able to keep using it instead of having to find somewhere to store it later.
Explore the Dawn House Bed
More than just another adjustable bed, the Dawn House Bed is uniquely designed for seniors and individuals with mobility challenges. It has the sleek, modern aesthetic of a regular bed with the safety features and customization options you’d get from a hospital bed.
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People who have made the switch to a Dawn House Bed report improved comfort and fewer falls getting in and out of bed.
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Customers love the under bed lighting and integrated smart features like daily sleep quality reporting.
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Many users find the customization options enable them to find a comfortable position that helps alleviate swelling and arthritis pain.
Plus, you can access all these features and more at the touch of a button using the included wireless remote or using voice commands. Whether you or a loved one is getting up in years or has physical limitations that make a regular bed unsuitable, it might be time to consider a better alternative—the Dawn House Bed.
Ready to learn more about this hospital bed alternative? Explore the features or start shopping at Dawn House Living.
