According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the worldwide prevalence of obesity has nearly tripled between the years 1975 and 2016. Currently, more and more children and adolescents are becoming overweight or obese.
While some causes of obesity might include an intake of large amounts of food that are rich in sugar and fat, and/or physical inactivity, other individuals are prone to it due to certain genetic factors that are out of their control.
Regardless of the reason, many people suffering from obesity struggle to find the right bed to cater to their medical needs. If you or your loved ones are in a similar predicament, we recommend getting a bariatric bed to solve your problem. If you are ready to take the next step with weight-loss surgery, the experts at BMCC can help you find the procedure that best suits your needs.
A bariatric bed is a custom-made bed that has been constructed to support people who are obese and may require additional support and features to help them in their daily lives. After all, a good night’s sleep is extremely important to maintain overall health.
Read on to find out everything you need to know before purchasing a bariatric bed.
Choose The Right Mattress
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While bariatric beds are a fantastic heavy-duty option for obese people and in-home patient care, they can be costly. This is why it is important to know the exact requirements and specifications before making an expensive purchase.
First off, the mattress you choose for a bariatric bed is different from a normal store-bought mattress. These are wider and thicker and contain innovative technologies to cater to the needs of bariatric patients.
Key mattress features include a top layer to mitigate friction and skin abrasion, laminated foams to evenly distribute weight and reduce pressure, and air layers to avoid moisture and heat from building up. The engineering of a bariatric mattress makes them durable and safer for people who are obese and allows them greater flexibility in their sleep routine.
When choosing the ideal bariatric mattress, consider the following:
- Thickness – It must be able to withstand the individuals’ weight.
- Spreads weight evenly – In order to prevent bedsores and pressure ulcers, the mattress should be able to distribute the individuals’ weight evenly. In this regard, a foam mattress is better than an innerspring mattress.
- Washable – The mattress should have an antimicrobial cover and be easily washable.
Check Size, Weight, And Height
When choosing a bariatric bed, you need to account for the person’s size, weight, and height. Accordingly, you need to choose a bed that can cater to these capacities.
When shopping for a bariatric bed, you are most likely to come across two terms, the ‘Maximum User Weight’, which is the weight of the individual using the bed, and the ‘Safe Working Load’, which is the weight of the individual, mattress, and any other features of the bed. So opt for a bed that can easily and safely accommodate the individual’s weight.
Consider Additional Features
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When investing in a bariatric bed, it is a good idea to consider the overall comfort and safety of the individual. For this purpose, we advise choosing an adjustable rather than a fixed bed height frame to allow easy access. Similarly, you can make it more user-friendly by opting for semi or fully electric versions with push-button controls. This will allow the user to feel independent and in control.
Furthermore, we highly recommend going for side rail and grab bar options to prevent accidents or injuries. You can also choose to include headboards and footboards for added stability. Other features include an auto-contour feature to allow the user to position themselves comfortably, and an auto-regression feature to help avoid pressure building in the sacrum region of the body.
Benefits of Choosing A Bariatric Bed
Bariatric beds are great for a number of reasons. They help overweight and obese people avoid bedsores and ulcers by providing superior comfort that is tailored to their needs. These specialized beds also offer ventilation by regulating airflow.
Since these beds are constructed with a particular subset of people in mind, they are a great option for caregivers to easily look after their patients. Generally, bariatric beds allow individuals greater mobility and convenience.
Parting Thoughts
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Whether you are a caregiver or looking for a bariatric bed for yourself or a loved one, it is important to list down all the specific needs and preferences beforehand. This is a good practice to enable you fully appreciate the value of your purchase, and will also help expedite the process.
We suggest keeping this guide in handy when purchasing a bariatric bed so that all this valuable information is just a click away.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
