How do I pick the best bed rails for seniors Forbes Health?
Bed rails, side rails, or safety rails provide more safety for the seniors. They have different styles, sizes, and types. Some are also height adjustable and have other features. When choosing bed rails, you should consider the health conditions of those using them.
Choosing the bed rails based on their unique requirements would be best. For instance, you can use foam-covered rails to help avoid bruises and other skin damages. And some people may need more mobility. Therefore, the rails should not have full length. Remember that bed rails should not be used for people with cognitive impairment!
There are two kinds of bed rails you can consider using:
1. Hospital bed rails
These bed rails are part of a hospital bed and can be adjusted.
2. Portable bed rails
They’re not part of the bed; instead, and they’re attachable and removable. Portable bed rails have different styles, including:
• Bed rails with legs
Bed rails with legs have adjustable height and length and are produced in an L-shape. One of its ends gets fixed under the mattress.
• Bed rails without legs
They’re in an L-shape, supported by the weight of the mattress itself. For more stability, they come in with a safety strap.
• Fold-down bed rails
These rails provide more access and are suitable for travel.
• Crossbar bed rails
These rails have an adjustable height, and the person can use various handhold areas to roll over or stand up.
• Dual bed rails
They’re positioned at both sides and have connected crossbars underneath the mattress.
When choosing suitable bed rails, you should also consider the length and weight. Bed rails should not be too short or too long, and their weight should be less than 4.5 kilograms. Moreover, consider the type of mattress and the bed frame to select the best bed rails.
Stander EZ Adjust Bed Rail
It has many stand-out features like a rail with an adjustable length that goes between 26 to 34 and 42 inches, and it’s useful for protection against rolling off the edge of your bed. It’s compatible with most mattresses that differ between 12 and 18 inches in height, and it’s mounted underneath the mattress. Security straps will also fix the rails to the bed frame, giving you peace of mind knowing it will not move.
Essential Medical Supply Bed Rail
It has a simple yet reliable construction that provides seniors with a non-slip hand grip to lean on it when getting in the bed and out. The rails are chrome-plated steel and feature an adjustable height to make them compatible with various mattresses’ depths. It can sustain a total weight of 300 pounds, and the rails come with a strap that lets you secure them to the other side of the bed for added strength.
Your senior can live more independently and feel more secure with bed rails. Besides other features of a barrier-free home, bed rails can be quite helpful. Consider the condition of your elderly. Bed rails are not suitable for them if their disability is, for instance, mental. But there are different kinds of bed rails; as with or without legs, portable, height-adjustable, foldable, and single or dual bed rails. You have to pick an appropriate product suited for your senior.
Bed rails offer safety with their various types for seniors, especially those with mobility issues, and enhance their life quality by helping them to live more independently. That said, those who have certain health conditions, such as any kind of dementia, might be entrapped if they use bed rails.
Bed rails might also be problematic for those who suffer from confusion, lack of muscle control, or restlessness. In these cases, using roll guards or foam mats are better options. When buying a bed rail, one must know what type they want. Portable bed rails are not part of the bed and have different styles such as bed rails with legs, legless bed rails, fold-down bed rails, crossbar bed rails, and dual bed rails, while hospital bed rails are all pretty much the same.
They should also consider the compatibility of a bed rail with the mattress and bed frame they own, and even after installation, check the bed rails now and then for any signs of loosening, shifting, or gaps. Standard bed rails that follow FDA regulations are 18 inches to 4 feet long, mostly less than 10 pounds, and cost between $30 to $150.
Bed rails can come with additional features such as a height-adjustable grab bar, safety strap, adjustable bed step stool, LED night light to prevent falling, a storage pouch, contoured ergonomic grips for multiple gripping positions, etc.