02 March 2022
In this series on home adaptations, we’re looking at ways to help make your home more accessible, from smaller changes through to larger scale remodels. Previously, we looked at ways to adapt a bathroom. Now it’s the turn of bedrooms.
Bedrooms are meant to be places of relaxation, so we can get a good night’s sleep and recover from our day. Depending on your needs or the needs of someone you care for, it may also be the room you spend the most time in. It’s crucial to make sure it’s accessible for everyone using it. To help with this, we’ve put together advice and suggestions for you to consider, alongside tips from our in-house Occupational Therapist, Sharon.
If your current bed is starting to feel too low for you, making it difficult for you to stand up from bed when you need to, you may want to consider furniture raisers. These useful aids raise up your furniture to reduce the height you need to push yourself upright or to lower yourself down again.
Do you find that your existing pillows just aren’t comfortable enough to lean against when sitting up in bed? A bed wedge could help. These useful wedges are designed to help you sit up at a more comfortable angle without having to deal with uncooperative pillows. Some bed wedges can also be used to support your legs as well.
Bed guards are there to help reduce your risk of falling out of bed on a night. The type of bed you have will affect which bed guard is more suitable for you. Some bed guards fit under the mattress and some attach to the bed frame itself, so check carefully to make sure it’s suitable for your bed before you buy it.
Bed rails, also known bed levers or bed sticks, are designed to support you while getting in and out of bed or while moving around in bed. Like bed guards, bed rails either fit underneath the mattress or attach to the bed from, so again, it’s important to double check your chosen bed rail is right for your bed type.
In general, it’s a good idea to update your mattress at least once every eight years. A decent, comfortable mattress is a key part of getting a good night’s sleep. Before you buy your next mattress, take time to consider what kind of mattress might be good for your needs. If you spent long periods of time in bed, then you may want to think about investing in a pressure mattress. Pressure mattresses are designed to help spread the weight of the body, so the pressure isn’t just on specific points and the risk of developing pressure ulcers decreases. There are different pressure mattresses available to accommodate different levels of pressure ulcer risk, so you’ll need to consider what your pressure risk is when choosing a mattress.
If transfers to the bed from your wheelchair are becoming increasingly difficult, then it may be worth considering a hoist. A hoist can help with safer transfers to and from the bed, reducing the stress and strain on everyone involved.
Depending on your needs, you could either get a mobile hoist that can be moved around as needed or choose a ceiling hoist, which takes up slightly less space in the room as it hangs down from the ceiling.
Profiling beds are designed for those with higher care needs. They can usually be adjusted to different positions e.g. raising the head of the bed or raising the bed at the knees. There are some profiling beds that can be raised or lowered, so that carers can take care of the person using it without causing themselves back strain from bending down for long periods of time.
Depending on your needs, you may want to consider a profiling bed that comes with side rails to prevent the person using it from falling out of bed.
Moving the bedroom to the ground floor could make it much more accessible as you won’t have to contend with using the stairs. The first step is to consider which room would be best placed to repurpose as a bedroom. Rebuilding and redesigning unused internal garages is often a popular option for those looking to move downstairs, if you choose this, make sure to seek out professional installers who are ideally familiar with making rooms more accessible. Other alternatives include using the dining room or perhaps the family room (if you have a living room as well).
Do you need more tips and advice on other adaptations you can make to other rooms in your home? Download our full guide to home adaptations here or choose the room you need help with below:
Not sure where to start with adapting your home to meet your needs? Try 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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