Adjustable beds offer many health benefits for the elderly living either in their own home, particularly those with mobility and comfort issues who need support, security and an environment that promotes better sleeping, recovery and respite.
Due to their multi-position functions, adjustable beds can provide therapeutic support to suit an individual’s physical needs, meaning it can be suitable for people with a variety of different health conditions and stages of mobility.
Investing in an adjustable bed for an elderly person has many great benefits for their wellbeing and care.
Comfort and Wellbeing
Adjustable beds, as the name suggests, allow a person to lie in the most comfortable and supportive position for their specific condition. Someone with circulatory issues, such as edema or varicose veins, can lie with their legs and feet slightly elevated to promote better blood circulation.
Adjusting the bed's position can also relieve pressure points on the body, reducing the risk of pressure ulcers (bedsores) for those who are largely bed bound or spend the majority of their time in bed. Proper positioning can distribute weight more evenly, minimizing discomfort and promoting skin integrity.
Changing the positioning options also allow the elderly or less mobile person to find the most comfortable sleeping position for a better night’s sleep. Improved sleep quality contributes to their overall health and well-being, enhancing mood, cognitive function, and immune function.
Pain Management and Breathing Support
For people with respiratory conditions such as asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or sleep apnea, elevating the upper body can help ease breathing difficulties and reduce symptoms such as wheezing or snoring, and allow for a more comfortable night’s sleep.
Elderly people with arthritis, back pain and musculoskeletal conditions will find relief by adjusting the bed to their preferred angle, reducing pressure on affected joints or muscles.
Independence
For many older people, getting in and out of bed can be challenging and without constant support from carers they can find themselves less able to independently move around from bed to the rest of their daily activities. Adjustable beds allow for easier transfers in and out of bed, reducing the high risk of falls or injuries.
Adjustable beds can empower older people to have greater control over their comfort and positioning without relying solely on carers for assistance, and therefore give them a degree of independence and autonomy, which ultimately gives a huge boost to their daily wellbeing.
Better for Carers Too
Adjustable beds not only make life better for the individual with mobility issues, but they can also allow carers or family to provide better support for them when needed. Raising a bed can give the family member or carer a better position from which to attend to the older person lying in the bed. Lowering the bed can remove the strain on the carer’s back, for example, while transferring a patient from bed to chair etc.
There are many benefits to purchasing an adjustable bed to aid with sleeping and pain management for the elderly living at home. If you need more help with how to choose and use your adjustable bed, please contact us at Mediworld. We have over 50 years of experience in supplying homecare, rehab and clinical equipment.