A bariatric bed is a heavy-duty bed that’s usually wider than standard hospital beds to safely and comfortably accommodate larger individuals in hospitals, clinics rehabilitation centres and at home.
Whereas a typical hospital bed may be around 37” – 39” in width and 80 inches in length, bariatric beds are often 36”, 42”, 48”, 54” or 60” wide and 80” – 88” long. Some models have adjustable widths and are known as ‘convertible’ bariatric
beds.
The weight-bearing capacity of a bariatric bed
A bariatric bed also has a great weight-bearing capacity than a standard hospital bed: they have sturdy, strong frames built to bear the weight of patients who weigh up to 1,000 lbs.
Similar to a standard hospital bed, the overall height of a bariatric bed can be adjusted and they feature casters to allow caregivers to easily wheel patients to different parts of a home or care facility.
Choosing a bariatric bed
As you’d expect, it’s important to allow for the added dimensions of a bariatric bed when choosing one and placing it in a suitable room.
We recommend making sure that there is a sufficient amount of space around the bed so that nursing and clinical care can be carried out without any risk of injury to the patient or the caregiver.
A general rule of thumb is to allow a clearance of five feet on either side of the bed, as well as at the foot of the bed.
For more information on choosing the right plus-size bed for your patients, Premiere Healthcare can help. Please get in touch today.
