Hospital bed set up

[annlee]

I will be getting a hospital bed in a few weeks. I am trying to prepare my room for that. Your thoughts and experience on this would be helpful. Will it work to have the side of the bed up against the wall? Are these beds hard to roll away from the wall to change bedding? As things progress, what will I need in this space, besides a Hoyer lift and my PWC. Will one small bedside table be adequate for Bipap etc? Any reason my large dog needs to be moved out of the room? I'm planning on keeping her bed in the corner. I have no idea what I need to plan for this space. I have 2 living areas, so I could set up in one of those, but prefer my sunny bedroom. Any thoughts are appreciated. This is not a huge room, rather average.

 

[lgelb]

The side cannot be against the wall. You need two inches clearance on both sides and the head for it to go up and down, and your caregiver(s) will need to be in those spaces, at times, too, for maneuvers and care, beyond changing the bedding.

Moving a hospital bed horizontally would probably involve sort of juking it, like parallel parking. The wheels usually want to move vertically.

You don't need to store the lift in your room, nor your power chair, if space is tight. Store them elsewhere and bring them in when you need them, if it helps.

Whether your dog can still be there depends on their personality. They need to stay out of the way of the bed when it's moving, not trip caregivers at the side of the bed, and be out of the way of the wheelchair/Hoyer during movement and transfers. If they're going to retreat to the bed when things are happening, that would be fine.

For BiPAP, one table can do it if the machine fits and the hose is at the right height and angle for your bed/mask. There are holders that can help position it. It does need to be stable so you don't jostle water into the machine or knock it off.

 

[annlee]

Thanks for your reply. Looks like "plan A" won't work. I'll keep working on it. How many feet do you think is needed on each side and the end? My PWC will be in the room. I have to drive right up against the bed to get into the bed, so it parks right there. A few inches clearance between PWC and bed is no issue. Hoping to get better sleep with the hospital bed. Can't roll over or scoot, legs get trapped, hip pain, sitting up is an event, etc.

 

[lgelb]

I was being literal... ultimately, the minimum is 2" on any side a caregiver isn't wheeling the Hoyer underneath, once you are using one. Normally, that would be the foot of the bed, but some people do a pivot turn of 90 degrees so that the PALS' legs are facing the door (we used a slip sheet with handles under the fitted sheet to accomplish this, because of a desk blocking most of the foot of bed area) so the Hoyer comes under the bed on the side closest to the door.

We did use the foot end to do the evening transfer into bed.

In either case, there also has to be room for the caregiver to wheel the Hoyer to your bed, and to move the Hoyer away when the transfer is done. And remember, you are transferring from your wheelchair. So you might do the wheelchair-to-lift transfer in another room if necessary.

So for right now, if no one is using a Hoyer, there just needs to be a couple of inches between the wheelchair and the bed so the bed can move.

Most Hoyers won't require a lot of extra space to be under the bed during a transfer, it's just that obstacles need to be out of the way so it can roll up to it and away from it, and room for the caregiver to put the sling under you in the morning and remove it at night (presumably it's put on when you're in the wheelchair), which involves some reaching.

 

[annlee]

Thank you for clarifying things. I'm new to this and am quite ignorant as to how these things work. You've been a great help.

 

[swalker]

My hospital bed has been a great benefit to me. I have been using one for about 5 years.

Here is some input on your questions.

1. I could not get by with a side of the bed against a wall. The head is against a wall, but the other 3 sides are not.

2. The room is carpeted and moving the bed regularly would be impractical.

3. I have a stand (sort of like an IV stand) that holds my bipap (Astral 150) and humidider on the left side of the bed. I have a small side table on the right side.

I hate having to need the bed,but love having it.

Steve

 

[annlee]

Thanks for your thoughts. The stand you mentioned sounds interesting. Fortunately, I have all hardwood floors in my house. Getting a hospital bed has been more difficult for me than all the points leading up to not walking. My bedroom has been my quiet sanctuary. I started losing that with all the challenges with rolling over, sitting up, scooting over, "trapped legs", and spasms from hell. I really want a cozy relaxing bedroom. This disease is all about learning to "let go", over and over. I'm getting there. "One Step At A Time." Haha! But who is still "stepping". I need a new mantra. Thanks and blessings to all of you.

 

[migs]

Hi, this is more an add on question and not a reply. I also am in the process of arranging to get a hospital bed within the next couple of months, hopefully. i have taken notes of the information given by those of you that have already dealt with it, and my question is: has anyone joined a single/twin bed to the hospital bed for the purpose of still sleepin with your spouse? or am I asking for too much?

 

[Nikki J]

Yes definitely though you want to be able to move it away during care and you need a room that will govern you enough space

 

[lgelb]

A couple of inches between so the bed can move, enough for a caregiver to stand between them but close enough they can still touch you.

 

[migs]

Thank you Nikki J and Igelb for your responses. Both of them are helpful.

Miguel