Bedroom

People spend more hours in the bedroom than any other room, and for someone whose mobility is declining it gradually becomes where most of the day happens, not just the night.

Two things matter here: getting in and out of bed safely, and being comfortable and protected once you are in it.

Getting in and out

This is where night-time falls happen, half asleep and in poor light.

A bed rail or grab handle gives something solid to pull on when rolling over, sitting up and moving to the edge. Most people asking about rails want this rather than a barrier.

Bed risers raise a bed that is too low, so standing takes less effort. Height matters in bed as much as on a chair or toilet.

A support pole runs floor to ceiling beside the bed and gives a vertical handhold where there is no wall, which is usually exactly where the bed is.

A trapeze lets someone pull themselves up and reposition using their arms, which restores movement that pushing cannot.

Staying safe once in bed

Bed rails are not automatically the answer to falling out of bed. Someone confused or determined to get up may climb over one and fall from a greater height, and rails carry an entrapment risk for anyone who cannot free themselves.

A fall mat beside the bed accepts that and cushions the landing. A bed alarm warns a carer that someone is getting up without restricting them. For many people, either is safer than a rail.

Comfort and protection

An adjustable homecare bed changes what someone can do for themselves: sitting up to eat, read or breathe comfortably without calling for help.

Pressure care mattresses matter for anyone who cannot reposition themselves, because sustained pressure damages tissue within hours.

Underpads and incontinence products protect the bed and the person, and skin care matters as much as absorbency.

Ask us

Tell us what is difficult and whether anyone is helping. Bed rails in particular should be matched to the bed and the person rather than guessed.