Over the years, there has been much confusion between the term hospital bed and nursing home bed (or long term care bed). Many industries use different terms to describe the type of medical bed they use in their facility, and it is important for consumers to understand the difference between these terms to find the correct healthcare bed they are looking for. Here are some key differences between a hospital bed and a nursing home bed.
Hospital Beds
A hospital bed is a customized bed that has been designed to meet the needs of a hospital environment. There are quite a few features that distinguish a hospital bed from a regular bed.
- The most distinctive feature of a hospital bed is that it is fully adjustable including the top and bottom of the bed. Hospital beds can usually be adjusted in various ways to support a patient's back and to make it easier to perform procedures while the patient is still in bed. A basic hospital bed can be split into two sections which can be raised in different ways at the same time.
- Hospital beds also typically have rails, which help keep patients from falling out of bed. The rails can be adjusted up and down to move patients in and out of the bed and to perform procedures.
- Another customized feature of a hospital bed is the control panel on the headboard which allows the staff to make adjustments to the bed. Patients can call a nurse and also control other elements in the room such as a TV. There is also typically space towards the foot of the bed for the patient's chart to be stored.
- With the built in control panels and other adjustable functions, almost all hospital beds are electric.
Nursing Home Beds/Long Term Care Beds
Nursing home beds and long term care beds are similar to hospital beds in some ways but there are key differences as well.
- These beds are typically used in nursing homes, long term care facilities, assisted living facilities, rehab facilities, and can also be used at home.
- Nursing home beds come in a variety of sizes including larger beds for Bariatric residents. The difference in size between beds helps facilities find the specific size they are looking for to fit their patients and their facility. Hospital beds tend to come in one standard size unless specially ordered. This standard size hospital bed can restrict the mobility of the bed and where it can be moved.
- Another key feature for long term care and assisted living beds is the high/low feature that comes on many beds. This allows the bed to be moved from a low position of a few inches off the floor to a much higher position to allow ease for the patient and the staff. This type of bed works well for patients with Alzheimer's and dementia. There are multiple high/low beds that can be raised and lowered to different heights to fit each patient's and facilities needs.
- Another difference between hospital beds and nursing home beds is that not all nursing home beds come with rails automatically. Rails of different types can be purchased to add to the bed. There are many other accessories that can be purchased to work with a nursing home bed such as: soft touch rails, overbed tables, handsets, mattresses, safety locks, and wall bumpers. These bed accessories help customize each bed to fit the resident's needs.
These differences might seem small but they can help facilities and customers determine which type of healthcare bed they are looking for.