Written by Mike Price, OT
A fully electric hospital bed for home contributes to user comfort, safety, and quality of rest. Restorative sleep is a significant component of good health. If you have a medical condition or are recovering from an illness or injury -- a comfortable bed that serves your medical needs and addresses any mobility issues helps create an environment most conducive to your overall well-being.
As part of an at-home convalescence or aging-in-place plan, the installation of one of these beds can allow you to remain at home and put off or prevent moving to a care facility.
An estimated 51 percent of patient falls occur when a patient is getting into or out of bed. That same report also reveals that bed height is a leading contributor. With fixed-height beds, caregivers can't make the proper adjustments to ensure safe entry and exit and patients can quickly lose their balance and fall.
Between handheld remotes, extensive height ranges, and adjustable sections, our top seven, full-electric hospital beds offer fall protection and optimize patient comfort. These easy-to-use beds are both caregiver and patient-friendly for incomparable experiences.
1. Best Overall: UltraCare XT Four Section Hospital Bed Frame
2. Best Hi-Lo: Alterra Hi-Low Electric Bed
3. Best Package Bundle: Electric Hospital Bed Bundle
4. Best Positioning: Elite EX Long-Term Care Bed Package
5. Best DIY Assembly: Joerns WeCare Full-Electric Hospital Bed
6. Best Bariatric: Med-Mizer Comfort Wide EX8000 Power Adjustable Bariatric Bed
7. Best on a Budget: Hi-Low Hospital Bed for Long-term Home Care
When It comes to long-term care, you always want to choose the best for the people you love. However, the best usually means having to break the bank. The B310T Long-Term Care Low Bed proves you don’t have to! With a vast height range, sturdy metal frame, and adjustable head and foot sections, you can provide all the best features of a fully electric bed at an affordable price.
One of the most important things to look for in a long-term care bed is convenience and comfort. With height and positional adjustments, the B310T by Cost Care supports better circulation, reduced body aches, and easier breathing. It can be positioned as low as 10.4 inches off the ground to reduce patient falls and as high as 24.4 inches to alleviate strain and risk of caretaker injuries. Enhancing patient support and safety, are the adjustable head and footboards that minimize the risk of bed sores, sleeping problems, and many reported issues with non-adjustable beds. These adjustments can be made at the push of a button, promoting independence amongst long-term care patients. Needless to say, the technical specs on this bed are very comparable to other, more expensive beds on the market.
Not only does this bed ensure an enhanced quality of care, but it also blends beautifully with any room decor. This sleek bed is available in either deep mahogany or a rich cherry finish that provides a luxurious and attractive feel. As optional upgrades, swing-down half rails and a standard foam mattress can conveniently complete your new, fully electric bed.
Providing patient care is all about comfort, safety, and security, which can be quite difficult to find all in one bed. With Med-Mizer’s Comfort Wide EX8000 Power Adjustable Bariatric Bed, you’re assured all of that and more! It features advanced bed positioning, expandable width technology, and quick assembly/disassembly. The versatility and quality are unmatched, making the EX8000 our top bariatric bed!
While most bariatric beds meet weight and basic adjustability requirements, the Comfort Wide EX8000 by Med-Mizer sets a new standard with a bed width that expands up to 48 inches wide and a bed height that can be positioned as low as 9 inches off the ground. This ensures a reduced risk of patient falls and easy entry and exit for all patients. With a push of a button, the width can be set to 35, 39, 42, or 48 inches, outperforming nearly every other bed on the market. A five-function handset also controls a range of advanced positioning including the cardiac chair, Trendelenburg, and reverse Trendelenburg. The versatility allows caregivers to treat nearly any patient with ease, ensuring safe and comfortable care.
Perhaps the most convenient and unexpected feature of all is the easy assembly and disassembly. Despite having many moving parts, the EX8000 can be disassembled within minutes to transport from room to room. This allows facilities to bring the bed where needed, saving time and transportation resources. With such great adaptability, caregivers and patients alike can experience secure, luxurious, and personalized care.
Are you looking for a well-rounded, fully electric bed? One that is easy to adjust but also easy to assemble? Look no further than the Joerns WeCare Full-Electric Hospital Bed. Not only does it offer an assortment of style and color options, but assembling each panel is just as easy as the next. These stylish head and foot boards install through a simple slide-in design that provides extra safety and security.
Joerns is bringing exceptional stability and comfort to a bed that has been tested and proven for one-person assembly. This simple yet durable split-frame bed features an impressive height range that can be set as low as 8.75 inches, reducing the risk of patient falls and ensuring safe entry and exit. These height adjustments can easily be made with the eight-function hand pendant along with back, knee, and simultaneous options. Furthering patient comfort and stability is the three-section mattress support platform and therapeutic grid surface. Together they ensure mattress shear reduction, better sleep, and everlasting support.
With the Joerns WeCare Full-Electric Hospital Bed, it really doesn’t get any easier! It has a delivery weight of no more than 77 pounds and a split-frame design for the easiest, quickest, and most effortless assembly yet. However, this doesn’t take away from its longevity or durability. Engineered with a durable, tubular steel design, this Joerns bed has industry-leading stability, outperforming its competitors. With the best of both worlds, it’s a no-brainer why this bed is a favorite!
At number 4 on our list is the Elite EX Long-Term Care Bed Package from NOA Medical, which has an integrated expansion deck system that fits a wide range of patient sizes.
The 35-inch width of this bed’s deck can be expanded to 39 or 42 inches, and the length ranges from 84 ½ inches to 88 ½ inches. No tools are required to make these adjustments, so it’s easy to get the best fit for the user. The deck height ranges from 7 to 30 inches, and this bed has a weight capacity of 600 pounds. Even though it will serve as a bariatric hospital bed, the expansion system allows this bed to fit through standard doors.
This all-electric hospital bed comes with head and footboards in your choice of laminate finish, swivel locking casters, wheel guides, wall bumpers, safety lock, a trapeze bar holder, user-friendly hand control, and your choice of assist bars or side rails.
This highly adjustable bed is easy to configure, and if you are shopping for a bed to accommodate a larger patient, this one will provide safety and comfort in a great looking package.
Our number 3 pick is the Etude Electric Hospital Bed, Solace Prevention Mattress, and Side Rails Bundle from Invacare, providing easy ordering of an economical package boasting clinical features that focus on accessibility and patient comfort.
The sleekly designed adjustable bed frame, moving mattress that reduces friction and shear, and dual side rails with multiple grip positions are all designed to comfortably support users dealing with mobility, balance, and skin pressure issues. The high-density foam mattress is 6 inches thick, 80 inches long and 36 inches wide, and can accommodate patients weighing up to 300 pounds. This hi-lo bed lowers to less than 8 inches off the ground for easy transfers.
The quiet electric motor makes this bed simple to adjust with the easy-to-use handheld control for height, tilt angle, head support, and knee elevation. Quick-connecting parts provide tool-free assembly. The frame and mattress each come with a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty.
If you prefer to order an integrated all-in-one package rather than individual bed components, this bundle delivers a robust list of features that create a convenient buying experience for a comfortable and safe sleep system.
The durable, supportive, and comfortable Alterra Hi-Low Electric Bed from Medline has made our list at number 2. It is highly efficient with a top-quality parallel electronics system and it delivers quiet repositioning and lifting with synchronized motors for head and foot repositioning that keep the bed level. It’s so smooth, patients often remain undisturbed while the bed is in motion.
Able to support up to 500 pounds, this bed has a deck with a grid/rib design that reduces mattress sagging that comes with long-term use by heavy patients. This hi-low bed can go as low as 7 ¾ inches off the ground, with a maximum height of 29.88 inches. The foot lock under the bed folds out of the way when not in use.
This bed can be purchased separately or in a package that includes oak head and footboards, a wall guard, and soft rails, and its design reduces the risk of entrapment.
If you need a bed that lowers to less than 8 inches off the ground to facilitate an easy transfer for a patient up to 500 pounds, this quiet and comfortable all-electric hi-low bed will not disappoint. You have the option of a conveniently packaged bundle or the freedom to choose your own accessories, and it’s so quiet it will contribute significantly to the quality of sleep enjoyed by the user.
Topping our list as the best full-electric hospital bed for home use is the UltraCare XT Four Section Hospital Bed Frame by Joerns. You can choose the length and width of this bed frame, which provides adjustable back and knee support.
The height adjustability makes transfers easier and reduces the risk of a fall getting in and out of bed. The 4-section steel frame is 30 times stronger than an angle iron frame, and its design can accommodate a wide range of applications and patient needs. It has a remarkable 12 control options for caregivers, including Trendelenburg and Reverse Trendelenburg positioning, Nurse Lock, and an under-the-bed light. The patient pendant controller has 8 operations, including back support and knee support.
It can be purchased with optional features that include patient-assist devices, a 2-position assist device that includes a lateral mattress stop, ½ length assist devices, and a deluxe assist handle that has an integrated pendant control holder. Head and footboards can be added in a variety of finishes, while the UltraLock system enables a caregiver to move the bed at any height.
This bed is an industry leader and has been featured before in articles highlighting the best hospital beds on the market. You’ll see why it is a top choice if you are looking for an exceptionally strong bed frame with advanced positioning capabilities that gives you a choice of length and width for a customized, comfortable, and safe hospital bed for home use.
No matter what your needs are for an adjustable all-electric hospital bed to use at home, you’ll find a suitable option for your situation on this list. Whether for a bariatric patient with mobility issues or an elderly patient who is at risk of falling, this bed is versatile enough to create a restorative environment by meeting the needs of patients and caregivers,
Depending on the features that mean the most to you, the things you should keep in mind when shopping for an at-home full-electric hospital bed are:
The adjustable height range is one of the most important benefits of having a hospital bed for home use. Dropping low enough to make it easy for you to get in and out of, and rising high enough so caregivers don’t have to bend and strain to provide assistance make daily life activities go so much more smoothly. Additional adjustable features include the backrest, knee elevation, and Trendelenburg tilt.
Most options on the market are called “Fully-Electric Hospital Beds.” One basic feature of all fully-electric hospital beds is adjustability, including the backrest, knee elevation, and overall bed height. Different models have adjustment options, features and accessory options, and price points. “Semi-Electric” hospital beds will have one or more features that require a hand crank (not electric).
Fully-Electric beds are powered electronically and come with a remote control. The patient or caregiver can easily adjust the height, as well as different parts of the bed, to maximize comfort and mobility.
Another big advantage to having a hospital bed at home is the safety that comes from side rails to prevent falls out of bed. Dangerous falls from beds are more common and can cause more serious injuries among elderly patients, so a hospital bed at home is especially beneficial for those who want to age in place.
If you need or prefer a special mattress, such as a pressure-relieving air mattress, a memory foam mattress, or a bariatric mattress, keep that in mind when you are shopping for hospital beds, as not all frames are designed to accommodate every type of mattress.
Ideally, the installation of an electric hospital bed at home makes life easier. Things to consider when shopping for one of these specialized pieces of equipment include the setup process, the location and fit of the bed in a room, and the degree of user-friendliness built into the controls.
Yes, a hospital bed can be used at home. Keep in mind that these beds are bulkier and take up more room than a standard bed, so when you are deciding if it’s a good idea to have one installed, plan where it will be located, how it will be installed, and how difficult it will be to get it into place.
Recovery and rest are more comfortable for people who have to remain in bed for long periods of time if they have access to an electric bed. The adjustability of a fully electric bed makes it safer for patients to sit up in bed, elevate certain body parts, and even just get in and out of bed.
Hospital beds require special sheets to fit properly. A twin regular mattress is 39 inches wide and 75 inches long, which would be too small for a hospital bed, which requires a twin XL sheet to fit the hospital bed’s mattress.
The main difference in features is that while a full-electric bed electronically raises and lowers the head end, foot end, and the bed platform itself, the semi-electric version is raised and lowered via a manual crank. If you need quick and efficient height adjustment, the full-electric version delivers a smooth user experience that takes much less effort from the caregiver.
For patients who have difficulty getting in, staying in, being comfortable in, and getting out of a standard bed, a home hospital bed could be a great solution. The adjustability of a hospital bed will be valuable to a caregiver as well. If an electric hospital bed for home use will create a supportive and healthy environment at your house, there will most certainly be an entry on our list that will meet your needs.
Interested in learning more? Check out Caregiver University: Homecare Hospital Beds And Mattresses for product reviews, comprehensive guides, answers to frequently asked questions, and more!
Check out Caregiver University: Home Page for articles on aging in place, wheelchairs, elderly fall prevention, and more.
Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.
