Urgently Need Low Hospital Bed for Mother

[springmymotor]

Until recently, I didn't know there was a seperate category of hospital beds
called "Low Hospital Beds." Here is a typical page from a medical equipment
supplier that sells this type of bed:

http://www.vitalitymedical.com/low-hospital-bed.html

My mother was about 5 ft. before osteoporosis caused her to shrink several
inches. She is definitely a tiny lady!

After several weeks at a rehabilitation facility, she is living with me (her son)
in my home. I would do almost anything to keep her away from another hospital
or rehab place. The rehab facility she was in had a five star rating, but it was an
incredibly depressing, morbid environment. My relatives told me that the "other"
places were much worse, which was hard to believe.

She desperately needs a low fully adjustable hospital bed. It must be as firm
as possible, because if her body sinks into a mattress she cannot move without
assistance. Right now she is sleeping on a customized flat bed. I'm a partner
in a business that builds various devices from wood, metal, and plastic. I was
able to customize a flat bed, but I cannot construct an adjustable bed in our
shop.

I e-mailed the company listed above. So far, no reply.

I need a bed frame and mattress that will not sag. My mother is about 90 lbs, so
it shouldn't be difficult to find something for her. By necessity, the mattresses
for these low bed frames are usually six or seven inches thick. A standard height
mattress would defeat the purpose of a "low" adjustable bed.

I'm a complete nervous wreck. If I don't find a decent low hospital bed my mother
can use without constant assistance, she may be confined to a nursing home for the
rest of her life. I don't care about the cost. I want my mother to stay at home, with
the folks that love her.

[SCI-Nurse]

We the Joerns UltraCare XT both in the hospital and in a home setting. It has a firm deck (not springs) as well, so gives lots of support. They have other models as well:

http://www.joerns.com/safety-solutions/bed-frames

There are many other extra low beds, primarily sold to the nursing home market. The rehab center staff should be able to direct you to local vendors. Was she in a sub-acute (nursing home) rehab program or an acute (IRF) rehab center??

(KLD)

[baldfatdad]

Any local medical supply company should have beds. If you live in a large city, the american cancer society runs lending libraries of medical equipment.

[springmymotor]

I apologize for not replying sooner. My partners are justifiably upset with me. They
think I'm spending too much time trying to resolve this problem with my mother.

The Joerns UltraCare XT must be an amazing product. Several hours ago I spoke to a
women with ALS. She recently replaced her old adjustable bed with the UltraCare XT.
If I can find a local supplier I'll visit them Monday morning.

I don't really know if that rehab facility was sub-acute or acute. The building itself
is surrounded by beautiful woods and open fields with horses, dog kennels, and many
incredible mansions. I used my smartphone and took pictures of this place. All of
the bathroom fixtures were completely rusted. Many of the toilets were seperated
from the floor, allowing sewer gases to escape. There wasn't a single bed with a good
mattress. My mother called me constantly, because she had to wait 30-to-60 minutes
each time she needed immediate help from the staff. After a dozen of these calls from
my mother, I asked my lawyer to call the director of this rehab place. He had to send
a letter threatening a lawsuit.

Just to be clear, my mother does have severe osteoporosis, but her brain is completely
normal. When I was a kid she never complained about anything. She could be sick
with a high fever and not say a word to anyone. I'm a hardcore athiest, but if angels
were real, my mother would be one of them.

[springmymotor]

I'm waving the white flag of surrender. Despite all my web searches
I can't find a local distributor for the UltraCare XT manufactured by
Joerns.

I live in Burlington County, New Jersey. I can easily drive to many of the
larger towns in Burlington or Camden County. New Jersey is practically
drowning in doctors, hospitals, and rehab or nursing facilities for the
elderly.

I'm not going to purchase a hospital bed for my mother without seeing
and trying the product in advance. If you can, please help me find a
distributor in Burlington or Camden County for the UltraCare XT.

[SCI-Nurse]

Did you call Joerns? They pretty much have their own distribution system, and when we work with them, there is really no place that they cannot arrange a delivery and set up. Call 888-221-8461 and ask for customer service.

(KLD)

[randomryan007]

Sleep safe makes a good solid nice low bed.i am thinking of getting one. As i know someone who hs one and loves it. Worth a look at.

[springmymotor]

Joerns doesn't hide their e-mail address. I sent them two messages. No repy.
I kind of thought they didn't have distributors you could actually visit. When
I searched for "Joerns" anywhere in the state of New Jersey I found nothing.

Let's say they deliver the bed and for some reason my mother can't use it.
That happened with the Hoveround. My sister wanted to get one quick, so
she wrote a check for $3,000.00. Fortunately, Hoveround was willing to
to take the chair back and refund all the money.

Just to make enough space for this bed, a whole lot of work will have to be
done. Moving or junking furniture, etc. A machine that is big, heavy, and
complex should be seen and tried before it's inside your house. Don't you
think so?

I'll check out that SleepSafe model. Thanks randomryan007.

[SCI-Nurse]

I have contacted our Joerns rep and they have asked the appropriate Joerns person to contact you. If you will put in a personal e-mail contact in your Profile contacts, they can send you an e-mail without knowing what your address it (it is blinded). Otherwise they will have to send you a PM.

(KLD)

[alan]

I'm working with Hill-Rom right now, still trying to get a low air loss, lateral rotation mattress through Medicare, or even Medicaid. Medicare wouldn't replace my 2.5 year old mattress that died last year (would only pay to repair, which was okay with me, but company had died, so no parts for repair.) I was provided an alternating pressure mattress. So, they're checking if I can get a bed and mattress combo (I could get a bed alone.)