If you’ve suffered a recent injury or illness, you probably would prefer to recover at home rather than stay in hospital. Especially in the current climate where you may be concerned about potential exposure to Coronavirus.

As well as the current COVID-19 threat, one of the biggest risks of hospitalisation are HAI, or Hospital Acquired Infections. Because patients are already health-compromised, they can be vulnerable to bacterial or fungal infections.

Healing at home minimises that threat. It also aids healing by reducing stress, promoting better sleep, and encouraging a better state of mind by keeping the patient surrounded by their familiar things.

If yourself or a family member are facing a healing process that requires lots of time spent in bed, a home hospital bed may be a great option.

Hospital beds are specially designed to care for immobile and ill people. They have a range of functions that standard beds don’t have, such as position adjustment, mobility aids such as hoists, and safety guards if necessary.

But hospital beds are expensive to buy. Which is why hospital bed rental is such a great choice - it’s convenient, cost-effective, and you don’t get stuck with an expense bed when recovery is complete!

Financial help for renting a hospital bed

The Australian Government has a number of initiatives for helping Australians who need care get access to financial aid for essential equipment.

Some notable programs include –

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

My Aged Care Home Care Packages

Victorian Aids and Equipment Program

To be eligible for these programs, you must –

• Be a permanent resident
• Hold a permanent protection visa
• Require assistive equipment for a long-term basis

Choosing the right bed for your needs

There are different kinds of hospital beds, each with their own advantages and disadvantages depending on your situation.

Electric beds

These typically have motors that raise or lower different sections of the bed. They are operated using a hand controller which raises the head or feet section of the bed up or down.

Bariatric beds

Bariatric beds are equipped with an extra-wide frame and a higher weight capacity. Most of these types of beds are electric and have heavy-duty motors. They are reinforced to support up to 500kgs.

Low lying beds

If your patient is at risk of falling out of bed, low-lying beds can be the difference between a small fright and a serious injury. They can be raised to administer care or lowered to help patients get on and off the bed.

Things to consider when renting a hospital bed

Do your due diligence before choosing a company to supply your rental bed. It’s important that your rental comes from an experienced company that supplies high-quality equipment and is big enough to meet your other healthcare needs.

Keystone Healthcare offers -

• Pickup and delivery of beds
• Options for long-term rentals
• A suite of complementary products, such as mattresses, alarms, and other equipment
• Regular cleaning and disinfecting services