Senior Caregiving

How High Should A Caregiver Raise The Height Of A Client's Bed?

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How High Should A Caregiver Raise The Height Of A Client’s Bed? A hospital bed should provide comfort and correct posture for the client, but it should also let their caregiver adjust the bed to the right height for accessibility. How high should a caregiver raise the bed? The best answer depends on the services they provide for their client, as well as the caregiver’s height and strength.

Learn About Hospital Bed Height For Caregivers

How High Should A Caregiver Raise The Height When Offering Care Services?

Hospital beds are different from ordinary adjustable beds in that they can raise and lower the overall flat height of the bed. It’s why they are also known as “high-low beds,” and the feature makes SonderCare hospital beds ideal for people who require in-home health care or are in assisted living situations. Caregivers can control this height to make their care services comfortable, safe, and comprehensive.

A hospital bed has an adjustable height range. The height off the floor to the top of the mattress can be as low as 16inches, with the upper limit going as high as 39inches. It gives caregivers a wide height range to work with when helping clients.

If a caregiver is assisting a patient in transferring out of bed to walk, the patient will ideally be able to put their feet flat on the floor. If the patient uses a wheelchair, the caregiver should position the bed so that the height allows the transfer to be across or down to the chair. Alternatively, for transfers from a wheelchair to bed, position the bed at an equal or lower height to the chair to make it as easy as possible. A low-height bed will provide the best range of options.

Does The Patient Need Caregiving Services In Bed?

When providing medical treatment or services like meals, caregivers should not bend, stoop, or reach. It’s especially true if they have to move the patient or otherwise exert themselves. When the hospital bed is at the wrong height it often results in caregiver back and muscle injuries. The correct height depends on the caregiver, but occupational health professionals recommend hip height or slightly higher.

The proper height is essential for offering high-quality care services. Positioning a patient in bed is important for maintaining alignment and for preventing pressure ulcers, foot drop (this is difficulty lifting the front part of the foot), and contractures (this is a tightening of muscles, tendons, or skin). When the caregiver has to strain or put themselves into an awkward position, there’s higher harm to patient risk. Healthcare professionals can measure any changes they make to bed height to see how it impacts different parts of the body.

Caregivers should raise the bed to a safe working height, and this can be different for every caregiver. Generally, positioning the bed so that work is being performed between waist and elbow height is best.

How High Should A Caregiver Leave The Bed?

There is no ideal flat surface height of the bed, as the height and mobility limitations should inform the caregiver’s decision. Some patients prefer to rest low to the floor, while others prefer to have a higher position when resting or enjoying television. A safe bed height is between 18” to 23”, roughly the same as the seat of a chair.

If a patient is at-risk for rolling out of bed or wandering out of it, the hospital bed position should be low. However, in these cases, more safety protocols should be followed, possibly including the use of assist rails, alarms, and other fall prevention equipment. Depending on the client’s physical limitations, overhead trapeze bars or transfer poles could also support weaker extremities and help caregivers who must transfer the patients.

Many health care providers and patients opt for high-low home hospital beds because it helps them manage in-home medical and mobility services. This bed type can be an essential part of any senior’s aging-in-place plan or for those who want to recover at home. SonderCare luxury hospital beds deliver all the services without feeling like an institutional bed. With some support from a SonderCare bed, medical conditions, muscle weakness, and mobility restrictions don’t have to be obstacles for independence or safety.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hospital Beds Working Height For Caregivers

What height should a hospital bed be?

A standard hospital bed adjusts from 21-inches to 29-inches in height from the ground to the top of the mattress.

What height should the bed be raised when working with a patient?

A caregiver should raise the bed to a height that is safe for them to work from, and this can vary from caregiver to caregiver. As a general rule, positioning the bed so that work is performed between waist and elbow height is ideal.

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Are you recently discharged from hospital, experiencing mobility issues, or in need of palliative or senior care? Enjoy a smoother recovery and get the luxury you deserve by choosing our home hospital products. Contact us today to discuss home hospital beds, mattresses, stand assist chairs and other accessories to make your home hospice perfect for a truly comfortable experience.

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