As part of our series on home adaptations, we’re looking at ways different rooms around the home can be improved to make them more accessible. From small changes through to bigger adaptation projects, we look at ways you can adapt your bedroom to help make it more accessible.
Our bedrooms should be a place of safety, a sanctuary for rest and sleep, but as our needs change it may become increasingly difficult to get around safely. But there are aids and equipment available to help turn it back into a restful room for you.
Are you finding it increasingly difficult to get up off your bed or to sit down on it at the end of a long day? One solution could be to get some bed raisers to boost the height of your bed and reduce the distance you have to lower yourself to sit down or to push yourself to a standing position. Bed raisers connect to the corners of your bed to raise it up.
As these aids go underneath the bed, you’ll need help to get them fitted properly.
If you’re having trouble sleeping due to a lack of back support or are finding it uncomfortable sleeping with an injury, then a posture support or wedge could be just the thing to help you get some much-needed rest.
The aids available range from wedges to leg troughs and lumbar rolls to help better support you and reduce any discomfort.
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Bed rails are a really useful bedroom aid designed to help you with getting in and out of bed, giving you a way to lever yourself up or lower yourself down. You may also have heard them be called bed levers or bed sticks.
Depending on the type of bed you have, the bed rail you choose will either under your mattress or clamp on to your bed frame. With bed rails, it’s important to remember that you will need to periodically check it’s still in the right position as they can shift over time.
If it’s the risk of falling out of bed that keeps you up at night, then a bed guard may help. Bed guards – sometimes known as cot sides – are there to help reduce your risk of falling out of bed. While they may seem similar to bed rails at first glance, bed guards mustn’t be used to help you get out of bed in the same way that bed rails aren’t designed to stop you falling out of bed.
Bed guards are designed to either slot underneath the mattress or fit to the bed frame itself, depending on which guard you choose to fit the type of bed you have.
If you’re bedbound or spend a lot of time in bed, a pressure mattress is a critical purchase to consider. This is because pressure mattresses are designed to help reduce your risk of developing pressure sores, which will require treatment.
Pressure mattresses help to spread your weight more evenly, stopping all your weight resting solely on specific pressure points on the body. There are a variety of different types of pressure mattress available and which one is right for you will depend on your pressure sores risk and the type of bed that you have.
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Adjustable beds are a handy investment if you spend a lot of time in bed or need to lie down at a specific angle or with your legs raised. This type of bed can be adjusted to the most comfortable position for you, whether that’s lying flat with your legs up or with the head of the bed raised.
Electric adjustable beds make it easy for you to adjust it to the perfect position for your needs, so you can rest in comfort.
Profiling beds are different to adjustable beds in that they’re designed for people with high care needs. While the bed position can be adjusted, similar to adjustable beds, some profiling beds also come with side rails to prevent you from falling out of bed. There are also height adjustable profiling beds available, so a carer can raise the bed up to take care of you without causing themselves back strain from leaning over.
A hoist can help make it much easier and safer to transfer in and out of bed.
If you need a hoist you can move around from room to room as needed, then a portable or mobile hoist may be more appropriate. For a longer-term fixed solution, a bedroom lift or ceiling hoist may be the right answer. Alternatively, the Luna IPx4 Ceiling Hoist could be a great option for you as it can be both fixed and portable.
If your bedroom is on the top floor of your house but you struggle with your mobility, relocating your bedroom to the ground floor may be a solution to consider. Ground floor living could help you be more independent as you won’t need to contend with steps or stairs (depending on the layout of your house) when getting around.
A popular option is to convert an unused integral garage into a bedroom. Others choose to create a bedroom where their dining room was. Whichever option is right for you will depend on the space you have in your home and what can be accommodated. It’s advisable to contact a professional adaptations company to get their help and advice on relocating a bedroom and getting the project in motion.
Looking for more tips and advice on adaptations you can make to the rest of your home? You can download our full guide here or choose the room you need help with below:
Alternatively, if you’re not sure where to start with adapting your home to meet your needs, see our Home Living Consultation Service where a registered Occupational Therapist will assess your needs and offer recommendations for changes you can make.
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