Hospital beds and adjustable beds offer head and foot angle adjustments for people who require changes in position due to pain, illness, surgery, snoring, sleep apnea, or simply for comfort. However, there are some important differences between the two.
The main difference between a hospital bed and an adjustable bed is that a hospital bed is designed for people who need temporary or permanent medical care, whereas an adjustable bed is designed for comfort and convenience. If you or a loved one needs an adjustable bed either temporarily or permanently, being aware of the differences between a hospital bed vs adjustable bed will help you make the most appropriate choice.
Both hospital beds and adjustable beds have adjustable bed frames with independent head and foot sections. However, most hospital beds can also be raised and lowered vertically whereas adjustable beds cannot.
Typically, a hospital bed is raised for more ergonomic caregiving—preventing the caregiver from having to bend over—and lowered when the patient is sleeping to minimize any injuries from a fall (hospital beds also come with bed rails, so the risk of a fall is low).
Being able to raise and lower the bed can also be helpful when using patient lifts to transfer the patient between the bed and a wheelchair, power chair, or commode, and for safety while performing exercises for bedridden patients.
Hospital beds are intended for use by a single patient and typically come in an extra-long twin size. Adjustable beds, by contrast, come in several different sizes, including twin, full, queen, king, and even split king—allowing two people to share the bed while adjusting each side of the bed separately.
A note about bed linen: Hospital beds typically require a special extra-long twin fitted sheet whereas adjustable beds usually conform to traditional household linen sizes. Linen for hospital beds is readily available and can be purchased at most medical supply stores.
As hospital beds often need to be moved from place to place, they typically come with wheels for easier portability. This is a helpful feature to have if a patient will be moved between a bedroom and a sitting room or will need to be wheeled between an operating theater and a recovery room. Adjustable beds, as pieces of domestic furniture, aren't designed to be moved around. However, some models fold up for easy storage when not in use.
Hospital beds and adjustable beds have very different features, reflecting the end-user each kind of bed is intended to serve.
Hospital beds typically have:
A handset and remote controls for changing the head or foot angle
Safety rails
A removable footboard
A foam mattress with an easy-to-clean vinyl surface
An over-bed table (optional)
A trapeze bar (optional)
USB charging ports (selected models)
Adjustable beds may have:
Remote, Wi-Fi, and smartphone control
A gel, memory foam, latex, or hybrid mattress
Pre-set positions
Under-bed lighting
USB charging ports
Massage function
Heat function
Wake up alarms
Speakers
Bluetooth
While hospital beds usually come with standard features, adjustable beds can be ordered with custom features to suit the preferences and intended use of the buyer. This reflects the fact that hospital beds have a more utilitarian purpose whereas adjustable beds are used for comfort, convenience, or fun.
Both hospital beds and adjustable beds use electricity to run. However, there are a few differences in the options available as far as the power source is concerned.
Manual bed. The bed is raised and lowered with a hand crank rather than with electricity. Manually cranked hospital beds were the norm before push-button hospital beds were invented in 1945.
Semi-electric bed. This model typically has a hand crank for the bed height and powered controls for the heat and foot sections. Some models offer powered heat and foot adjustments with a static (non-adjustable) bed height.
Full-electric bed. A full-electric bed has a motorized bed height adjustment as well as powered controls for the head and foot sections. Specialty hospital beds and adjustable beds are typically fully electric.
As pieces of durable medical equipment, hospital beds are designed for functionality rather than aesthetics. The headboard and footboard are typically simple, without elaboration, and the mattress usually has a vinyl outer layer for easy cleaning.
By contrast, adjustable beds come in a wide range of textures and colors and are often indistinguishable from traditional beds. However, with the rising popularity of in-home hospital beds, some manufacturers are starting to design hospital beds with electronic components hidden from view that blend in easily with the decor in your room.
As medical devices, hospital beds are usually manufactured in accordance with FDA guidelines and pass rigorous testing for product safety. In contrast, adjustable beds are not medical devices and don't go through the same testing as hospital beds. Instead, adjustable beds are covered by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and as such must not present an unreasonable risk of serious injury.
The cost of a hospital bed vs an adjustable bed depends on the size and features of the bed. While basic models may have a similar cost, full-electric adjustable beds with a wide range of features will tend to cost a lot more than basic hospital beds.
If you'll only need an adjustable bed for a few weeks, it's usually more cost-effective to rent hospital beds rather than purchase one outright. However, if you'll need the bed permanently, purchasing one makes more financial sense. Our mobility equipment supply store in Denver, Colorado, for example, offers credit from your hospital bed rental if you later decide to buy the bed.
After considering the unique features of each kind of electric bed, hospital beds are more suited to use by patients with health or mobility challenges and adjustable beds are more suited to use by able-bodied people who simply want greater comfort and convenience than a traditional bed provides.
If you're not sure which kind of bed you prefer or only need it temporarily while recovering from an injury, illness, or surgery, consider hospital bed rental. If you end up needing the bed long-term and find that it's perfect for your needs, you can always buy it later on.
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