Experience with Special Beds

[Guest guest]

We recently had an Occupational Therapist review our home for improvements

that could be made for Terry's benefit. Among other things, the OT

recommended a much firmer mattress on our double bed and a height of the

mattress of about 17 inches above the floor. Our current mattress does not

provide much resistance to push against when Terry attempts to get out of

bed; i.e. it is to soft. Also, the mattress is the standard height of 22 to

24 inches which is to high for her short legs.

I have seen the single bed that the Mollers in the DC Support Group use for

and it is has some nice features. I have discussed several times with

Terri Moller. I have spoken to the store that supplied their bed and they

have many features they can build into a bed for prices that are not

unreasonable. In particular, they can provide a bed with an electrically

adjustable height that comes close to the 17 inch minimum we need. The beds

they supply are some where between a hospital bed and a traditional bed in

price and features.

At some point, hopefully way down the road, I know Terry will probably need

a hospital bed. However, insurance will help when and if that time comes.

QUESTION: Has anyone had any experience with meeting needs that are some

where between those met by a regular bed and a hospital bed. Specifically

with respect to the low height of the mattress above the floor.

I would appreciate hearing about any wisdom anyone can share.

Sennewald Charlottesville, Virginia

[Guest guest]

Hi

I am also interested. I know my bed is too high, and I sometimes end up on the

floor when trying to transfer to the wheelchair, which means crawling to the

door to get up with my grab handle, and dragging the chair as I go.

The problem is that when you get your feet on the floor with your butt on the

bed, your thighs are angled down and with fine sheets you kinda go skiing! When

I could still stand, the height helps to get upright, but now its bad news.

Last week I got a 'duck-board' a slatted wooden thing intended for going by the

bath. But it slides on the carpet like a sleigh, but that can be fixed. It makes

about 2 " difference, and puts off the inevitable expense of renewal.

I would be very interested in how you get on.

-- from Brine

- brian@...>  Written at 01:31:27 on 08-04-2002

I noted that on  Sun, 07 Apr 2002 19:15:37 -0400,

perrys@...> wrote:

>

>We recently had an Occupational Therapist review our home for improvements

>that could be made for Terry's benefit. Among other things, the OT

>recommended a much firmer mattress on our double bed and a height of the

>mattress of about 17 inches above the floor. Our current mattress does not

>provide much resistance to push against when Terry attempts to get out of

>bed; i.e. it is to soft. Also, the mattress is the standard height of 22 to

>24 inches which is to high for her short legs.

>

>I have seen the single bed that the Mollers in the DC Support Group use for

> and it is has some nice features. I have discussed several times with

>Terri Moller.  I have spoken to the store that supplied their bed and they

>have many features they can build into a bed for prices that are not

>unreasonable. In particular, they can provide a bed with an electrically

>adjustable height that comes close to the 17 inch minimum we need. The beds

>they supply are some where between a hospital bed and a traditional bed in

>price and features.

>

>At some point, hopefully way down the road, I know Terry will probably need

>a hospital bed. However, insurance will help when and if that time comes.

>

>QUESTION: Has anyone had any experience with meeting needs that are some

>where between those met by a regular bed and a hospital bed. Specifically

>with respect to the low height of the mattress above the floor.

>

>I would appreciate hearing about any wisdom anyone can share.

>

>   Sennewald      Charlottesville, Virginia      

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

,

The hospital bed has many advantages over a normal bed, and does have a firm

mattress. Medicare will pay for it with a doctor's prescription (rent for

13-15 months, then rent drops to about twice a year to pay for the maintenance

contract - which you should keep as the motors are expensive to replace). I

would try for the hospital bed now. It also allows easy raising of the head of

the bed for orthostatic hypotension problems.

Take care, Bill

------------------------------------

Sennewald wrote:

> We recently had an Occupational Therapist review our home for improvements

> that could be made for Terry's benefit. Among other things, the OT

> recommended a much firmer mattress on our double bed and a height of the

> mattress of about 17 inches above the floor. Our current mattress does not

> provide much resistance to push against when Terry attempts to get out of

> bed; i.e. it is to soft. Also, the mattress is the standard height of 22 to

> 24 inches which is to high for her short legs.

>

> I have seen the single bed that the Mollers in the DC Support Group use for

> and it is has some nice features. I have discussed several times with

> Terri Moller. I have spoken to the store that supplied their bed and they

> have many features they can build into a bed for prices that are not

> unreasonable. In particular, they can provide a bed with an electrically

> adjustable height that comes close to the 17 inch minimum we need. The beds

> they supply are some where between a hospital bed and a traditional bed in

> price and features.

>

> At some point, hopefully way down the road, I know Terry will probably need

> a hospital bed. However, insurance will help when and if that time comes.

>

> QUESTION: Has anyone had any experience with meeting needs that are some

> where between those met by a regular bed and a hospital bed. Specifically

> with respect to the low height of the mattress above the floor.

>

> I would appreciate hearing about any wisdom anyone can share.

>

> Sennewald Charlottesville, Virginia