How to Choose an Electric Profiling Bed

Buying an electric profiling bed can feel rather more complicated than buying a normal bed.

There are different heights, widths, mattresses, side rails and weight limits to consider. Then you start seeing terms such as profiling, low beds, nursing height and dual profiling.

It can all get a little confusing.

At Fen Mobility Centre, we think the easiest way to choose a bed is to forget about the different models to begin with.

Start with the person who is going to sleep in it.

What are they finding difficult? How do they get in and out of bed? Do they need help from somebody else? Are they at risk of falling? Will a partner be sleeping alongside them?

Answer those questions first and choosing the right bed becomes much easier.

What is an electric profiling bed?

An electric profiling bed allows different sections of the mattress platform to move

independently.

Using a handset, you can raise the backrest to bring yourself into a more upright position and adjust the leg section to find a more comfortable position.

Importantly, many profiling care beds can also raise and lower the height of the whole bed.

That last function is one of the big differences between a profiling care bed and many of the adjustable beds sold primarily for comfort.

Changing the height can make getting in and out of bed easier, but it can also make a huge difference if somebody is providing care.

So, before choosing a bed, these are the questions we'd suggest asking.

1. Is getting in and out of bed becoming difficult?

This is a good place to start.

Watch how the person currently gets into bed and, just as importantly, how they get out again.

Do they struggle to stand from the edge?

Do they have difficulty lifting their legs onto the mattress?

Do they use a bedside cabinet or other furniture to pull themselves up?

The height of the bed can make a surprising difference.

A bed that can be lowered may make it easier for someone to sit down with their feet firmly on the floor. The bed can then be raised to help bring them towards a standing position.

For somebody who struggles to lift their legs onto a high mattress, being able to lower the bed further can also help.

This is why we wouldn't choose a profiling bed simply by looking at photographs online. The right height range depends on the person using it.

2. Will somebody be providing care in bed?

This changes the requirements considerably.

If a partner, family member or carer regularly needs to help with dressing, washing, repositioning or other care, the bed needs to work for them too.

Bending over a low bed while providing care can be uncomfortable and put unnecessary strain on the back.

A height-adjustable profiling bed can be raised to a more suitable working height while care is being provided and lowered again afterwards.

If care in bed is likely to become necessary, even if it isn't needed today, it's worth thinking about this when choosing the bed.

Mobility needs can change and a bed is something you would hope to use for many years.

3. Is there a risk of falling from bed?

Some profiling beds can be fitted with side rails.

These may be appropriate where there is a genuine risk of somebody rolling or falling from the bed, but side rails shouldn't automatically be added simply because somebody is older or has reduced mobility.

You also need to think about the mattress being used, the person's ability to move themselves and how they get in and out of bed.

In some circumstances, a low profiling bed may be worth considering instead.

The important point is that falls prevention needs to be considered as part of the whole situation rather than treating side rails as a standard accessory.

If you're unsure, this is something we would always recommend getting proper advice about.

4. How low and how high does the bed need to go?

Not all profiling beds have the same height range.

This can easily get overlooked when comparing beds because people naturally concentrate on the mattress size and how the bed looks.

A lower bed can be useful for someone who needs easier access or where reducing the consequences of a fall is a consideration.

At the other end of the scale, a bed that raises to a good working height can be very useful for carers.

Some beds offer a particularly wide height range, giving you both functions in the same bed.

Again, the question isn't "Which bed goes lowest?"

It's "What height does this particular person need?"

5. Single, wide single or double?

A standard single bed isn't necessarily the right answer just because only one person will be sleeping in it.

Some people appreciate a little extra width, particularly if they spend a lot of time in bed or need room to reposition themselves.

There are profiling beds available in different widths, including wider single beds.

Then there are couples to consider.

If one person needs profiling but their partner doesn't, you don't necessarily have to give up sharing a bed.

Dual profiling beds are available with two separate mattress platforms. Each person can adjust their own side independently.

That means one person can be sitting upright reading while the other is lying flat.

It also means couples can continue sharing a bedroom without the room suddenly looking like a care environment.

6. How tall is the person using it?

Width gets lots of attention, but don't forget length.

When the back section of a profiling bed is raised, the person's position changes and they can be moved further towards the bottom of the bed.

For a taller person, standard bed length may therefore feel more restrictive than expected.

Bed extensions are available for some models, so tell us if the person using the bed is particularly tall.

It's much easier to get this right when ordering than discover afterwards that their feet are permanently introducing themselves to the footboard.

7. What weight does the bed need to support?

Every profiling bed has a maximum user weight and safe working load.

These are not quite the same thing.

The safe working load takes account of everything the bed is supporting, which can include the person, mattress and accessories.

For most people this isn't something that needs a great deal of thought, but for a heavier user it's an important part of choosing safely.

Bariatric profiling beds are available where a higher weight capacity or wider sleeping surface is required.

Don't guess. Check the specification.

8. Don't forget the mattress

The bed itself is only half the story.

You still have to sleep on it.

A profiling bed needs a mattress that is designed to move with the bed as the different sections are adjusted. A conventional mattress may not flex correctly and isn't automatically suitable just because it happens to be the right size.

Then there's comfort.

Somebody who moves independently and simply wants a comfortable night's sleep may have very different mattress requirements from somebody who spends long periods in bed and is at risk of pressure damage.

There are comfort mattresses and various levels of pressure care mattress available.

If side rails are being used, mattress depth also becomes important because fitting a mattress that is too deep can affect the effective height of the rails.

This is an area where we'd strongly recommend choosing the bed and mattress together rather than treating the mattress as an afterthought.

9. Does it actually need to look like a hospital bed?

Absolutely not.

This is something we hear quite often.

People understand why an electric profiling bed would help but don't want their bedroom to suddenly feel clinical.

Thankfully, modern profiling beds have moved on considerably.

There are upholstered designs, different headboards, wood finishes and beds that, at first glance, look very much like normal domestic furniture.

For couples, there are attractive double and dual profiling options too.

You can have the practical benefits of a care bed without making your bedroom feel like a hospital room.

We think that's important.

Your home should still feel like your home.

10. Think about tomorrow as well as today

This is probably the most important advice we can give.

It's very easy to buy equipment that solves today's problem.

Try to think a little further ahead.

If mobility became worse, would the bed still be suitable?

Could a carer work comfortably around it?

Could side rails be added later if they became appropriate?

Would there be space for a hoist if one was ever needed?

Nobody has a crystal ball and there's no point buying features you're extremely unlikely to use.

But when somebody's mobility is changing, a little thought about what may be needed in the future can avoid having to replace an expensive bed sooner than expected.

Try one before deciding

Beds are personal.

Two people of exactly the same height and build can prefer completely different mattresses and sleeping positions.

That's why we like customers to actually try profiling beds rather than choosing from a picture.

At Fen Mobility Centre in Ely, we can talk through what you're finding difficult, show you how the different functions work and help you understand which features are actually useful for your circumstances.

Our Occupational Therapist-led approach is particularly useful when choosing something like a profiling bed because we're not simply looking at which model has the longest list of features.

We're looking at the person.

How they transfer. How they sleep. Their mobility. Their home. Whether somebody cares for them. And what they would like the bed to help them do.

We also supply Opera profiling beds, giving us access to a wide choice of sizes, styles and configurations.

Sometimes the answer is a relatively straightforward electric bed.

Sometimes a low profiling bed, side rails, pressure care mattress or a bed suitable for nursing is more appropriate.

And for a couple, it may be a dual profiling bed that allows them to carry on sharing a bed while having completely different sleeping positions.

The right answer depends on you.

If you're considering an electric profiling bed, come and see us at Fen Mobility Centre in Ely and have a chat.

We'll help you work through the options, try the beds and find something that's comfortable, practical and, importantly, still looks at home in your home.

https://www.fenmobility.com/beds