Safety and home
Hospital bed
A hospital bed is an adjustable bed used at home for a person who needs help with positioning, rest or transfers. It raises the head and feet and often changes height. Medicare lists hospital beds as durable medical equipment when a doctor orders one for use in the home.
Why it matters for your family
A hospital bed can make care safer for the person and for caregivers. Medicare Part B covers medically necessary durable medical equipment, including hospital beds, ordered by a doctor for home use, and you pay a share after the deductible. Medicare says it may rent expensive items. Suppliers must be enrolled in Medicare. A common mistake is to buy a bed first and ask about coverage later. Ask the doctor and the supplier before you buy. Plan room space and floor strength. Rails need care, since the FDA warns about entrapment. A home caregiver can help with positioning, but not with medical treatment.
Source: medicare.gov
Read more: What is Home Care? How to Benefit from These Services?
Related terms
- Bed railA bed rail is a side bar attached to a bed to help a person turn or get in and out.
- Medical alert systemA medical alert system is a device, often a wearable button, that lets a person call for help in an emergency.
- TransferringTransferring, as an activity of daily living, means moving between surfaces, such as bed to chair, chair to standing, or wheelchair to toilet.
- Mobility assistanceMobility assistance is help with moving around, such as standing up, walking, using stairs, and getting in and out of a bed, chair, or car.
- WheelchairA wheelchair is a chair on wheels that lets a person move when walking is hard or unsafe.
- WalkerA walker is a frame with four legs that a person grips to steady themselves while walking.
