A hospital bed for home care has an adjustable backrest and height, making it easier to help a patient sit up or get out of bed while the caregiver bends less. The doctor decides which features are needed. Med Sklep in Brooklyn carries hospital beds with a lift.
Bringing a loved one home from the hospital is a relief, and also a lot to handle. Suddenly the family has to set up a room, buy equipment and learn things nobody had to think about before.
Here are the questions caregivers ask most often before a hospital bed arrives at home. These are practical tips, not medical advice. The patient’s doctor decides what equipment is needed.
When does a hospital bed make sense at home?
Usually when the patient spends most of the day in bed: after a hospital stay, during a long illness, or when getting up becomes harder with age. A regular bed is often too low or too soft at that point, and every change of position takes real effort from both the patient and the caregiver.
Talk to the doctor about whether a hospital bed is right for your situation. A doctor’s order also matters if you want a health plan to cover the cost.
How is an adjustable medical bed different from a regular one?
The key is adjustability. A hospital bed lets you raise the backrest and the leg section, and many models also let you change the height of the whole bed. The caregiver can set it at a working height that avoids bending low while washing, feeding or changing the sheets.
Many models also have side rails and locking wheels, which make cleaning and moving the bed easier. Med Sklep carries hospital beds with a lift. Decide on the features you need with the doctor, then see how they work in person at the store.
How do I set up the room for a hospital bed?
A hospital bed is usually larger and heavier than a household bed, so plan the space ahead of time. Check the following:
- access from both sides, so the caregiver can reach the patient from the left and the right;
- an outlet nearby, if the bed adjusts electrically;
- door and hallway width, since the bed has to get into the room;
- the floor: loose rugs and cords are a tripping hazard for everyone;
- a night light and a bedside table, so medications, water and the phone are within reach.
What other home care equipment is useful?
The bed is usually just the start. Day-to-day care often calls for incontinence supplies, such as adult briefs and pads. It helps to keep extra on hand, because they run out faster than you expect.
If the patient gets up, even briefly, a walker or a wheelchair can help with moving around the home. We cover those in our guide to choosing a wheelchair, scooter or walker. If the doctor prescribes oxygen or breathing treatments, see our guide to oxygen concentrators and nebulizers.
Med Sklep carries all of it: hospital beds, incontinence supplies and other home care equipment, so most of the shopping can be done in one place.
Will my health plan cover a hospital bed?
That is up to the plan, not the store. Med Sklep works with Medicaid, Medicare and other health plans, and the staff help you check eligibility, so the equipment is free or has a low copay when the plan allows it.
A prescription or order from the doctor is usually required. Before you buy anything, call with the patient’s insurance card in hand: 718-388-3355.
What should caregivers keep in mind?
Caring for someone at home is hard work for the caregiver, too. Adjusting the bed height is not a luxury; it is how you protect your own back. Use it for every task.
Keep the manuals for the bed and other equipment where everyone can find them, so each family member knows how the remote and the wheel locks work. If something is unclear, ask at the store. Staff speak Polish, and Med Sklep has supplied the Polish community with medical equipment for more than 10 years.
If the equipment is meant for family in another state or in Poland, ask about shipping: the store ships within the U.S. and to Poland.
You can find hospital beds and home care equipment at Med Sklep (M.A. Surgical Supplies Inc.), 188 Woodpoint Rd #1C, Brooklyn, NY 11211. The store is open Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Friday from 10 AM to 3 PM, and is closed on weekends. Call to ask about a hospital bed with a lift: 718-388-3355.
Store details and contact information are listed in the Med Sklep profile in the Polish Pages directory.
This guide is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Your doctor determines the type of equipment you need, and your health plan or insurer decides on coverage.
