Adjustable Beds – Why You Should Get One

Adjustable Beds Buying Guide

A Brief Overview of the Adjustable Beds

Flat beds offer limited control or support for back and head or even leg injuries or special concerns.  As a result the adjustable bed was invented to address a specific pain point in those with either chronic illness or had sustained an injury.  More often than not the acquisition of an adjustable bed will help get rid of many of the issues you once thought your mattress was giving you.  An adjustable bed offers you the ability to read and interact more comfortably than a typical flat bed.  However adjustable beds can cost as much as twice the amount of normal flat beds.

There are multiple different kinds of adjustable beds. There are those that have a sleep number bed and in which you can adjust the mattress’s firmness, and there are the more traditional adjustable beds in which you can move the positioning of the bed very easily. These second kinds of adjustable Beds are very common in both hospitals and hospices. However, they are available for home use and home-care.

An Adjustable bed is a multi-hinged surfaced bed, which can be moved and adjusted so that it is more upright or in other positions. This makes similar forms of them popular in areas where care needs to be done. For example a variation on adjustable beds would be the adjustable chair used in dentist offices as it allows the dentists and orthodontists to angle the patient properly to care for his or her teeth.

There are adjustable beds that are suitable for people with injuries and beds for bad backs. For example someone may want an adjustable bed if they have a broken leg and are told to keep their leg elevated at all times. This would allow the person to adjust the bed so that the leg part of the mattress is elevated. For some people, they may be instructed to elevate their head or neck and this part of the bed can also be adjusted. Some people may just like to fall asleep while sitting up a bit watching TV and they may want the flat part of their back to remain flat yet elevated at their hip so that they can watch TV without leaning too far forward or sitting up leaning uncomfortably against the headboard or wall.

Adjustable beds today do not include the mattress top but simply the bed mechanism itself, although they can be bought as a package.  These beds are designed and marketed to provide you an increased level of comfort so the adjust ability and comfort are far superior to the normal bed and that comfort is usually right at your finger tips.

The beds are available in the standard sizes so as not to create a whole new industry for sheets.  In many cases these beds can be custom built if the customer needs, of course this would be done at a greater cost.

One of the world’s largest bed manufacturers is called Legget and Platt.  They manufacture their beds here in the United States and have distribution to North and South America. In today’s market in order to remain competitive each bed must undergo numerous tests.

With the ever increasing demand for product functionality most new adjustable beds are coming out with the ability to give massages.  This has been a great addition to people who use the beds primarily for bed rest and non responsive patients because it allows the muscles to be stimulated and the blood to flow.

Typically adjustable beds are used in hospitals and elderly care homes, but an increasing amount of people are purchasing them as a more functional alternative to the standard flat bed.  Additionally because the beds require so much capability they are made with higher grade materials and are typically more comfortable.

Finally because the beds carry large motors they often outweigh the flat bed three times over.  Be prepared to ask people for help every time you need to move the bed.  The bed comes with wheels to make small moves easy but getting it up a flight of stairs is near impossible without two or three able bodied individuals.

Sleep Problems? Adjustable Bed is an Ultimate Solution

With the amount of time people spend working and trying to get ahead sleep deprivation has become a major issue in the country.  Many individuals are not getting near the amount of sleep their bodies require.  Adjustable beds have been a consistent solution for many with this issue.  These beds can be adjusted into every position imaginable to man.  Sufferers from asthma, stomach disorders and chronic worriers have all seen benefits from an adjustable bed.  Often times these beds are used in hospitals or for in home care patients in order to both facilitate care and ease the burden of the care taker.

Doctors and nurses are both afforded easier access to the patient with these types of bed.  They can be configured to meet the specific needs of a variety of positions.  Some people may need their lower body to be isolated, others may need easier access to their cranium and this is easy to accomplish with a bed that can position itself in these ways.

People with chronic back pain often benefit from devices like these because it allows stress to be relieved off certain areas of the back and lower body requiring the actual back muscles to do less work.  By raising your legs for example you alleviate all the strain from your lower back when you lie down.

Chronic acid reflux is a disorder where your stomach produces too much acid as a result of either a genetic disorder or just poor eating habits.  The thought is that if your upper body is more upright the acid won’t travel up the esophagus.  Unfortunately this is just not the case, if it were you would never experience heartburn except while lying down.

Some people do suffer from a very serious disorder called sleep apnea.  This is a result of excess blockage to the breathing area, usually by people who are overweight and no longer active.  As their lungs try to push their chest cavity away in order to inhale the weight of the body is too much and the person either coughs themselves awake, suffocates themselves until the awake or they die.  An adjustable bed relieves the stress to the chest by displacing the weight and can allow a more normal breathing pattern.  This is not a cure however, simply and adjustment that can be made to make someone more comfortable.  People who choose to not take care of their bodies should be aware they are putting themselves at risk.

A TempurPedic Adjustable Bed will generally have an adjustable foam mattress that can be used to adjust in any number of comfortable positions for sitting, laying, leaning, sleeping, relaxing or whatever your needs. A TempurPedic bed that is adjustable may also have the ability to have a built in massage in the bed. An electric adjustable bed may be connected to a feature such as a built in massage as the electronics that cause the bed to be able to adjust and often are connected to a remote controller, can also allow you to press a message button, if that option is included. You will not see a massage build in to an adjustable bed if it is not electronic. However, there may be electronic massage pads sold separately that you can lay on top of your mattress. However be warned if you see a price that seems very affordable for a Tempur-pedic luxury bed, such as under $2000, that it will not always come with the mattress itself and will be significantly more expensive for a king size compared to a single bed since there is more material. It also will cost extra for a service plan, shipping, etc. You are making an investment as you will spend as much as 1/2 of your life in your bed and the quality of the other half of your day depends on how good of sleep you get, and it will certainly boost the quality of your life, however, it is a luxury item that not everyone can afford, so make sure you can pay for it before you buy, then you can look back and enjoy the decision you made, without losing any sleep over it.

Adjustable Style Beds for Homecare Needs

Adjustable beds are the alternative that most elderly people need when a traditional flat bed no longer meets their needs.  Being able to rest in a bed that elevates and declines to make entry and exit easy can really improve the quality of the sleep.  Anyone who has used a quality adjustable bed can attest to their comfort and functionality.  It has been said that adjustable beds also help those with chronic heartburn but this has not been proven to be the case, consult a more specific diagnosis if you suffer from acid reflux.

People who have issues with back, knee or hip pain can also benefit from the bed because it allows them to pre determine the sleeping position they want to be in with a wide array of options.  So if you are seeking a better night sleep and want to wake up more rested and ready to go an adjustable bed may be your best fit.  If you provide live in care for individuals who cannot mobilize themselves you may find an adjustable bed to lighten the work load.

Most adjustable beds come in the standard bed sizes; king, queen, full, twin etcetera.  The beds are typically easy to operate with new age remote controls systems and they all have dual adjusting head and feet operations.  Usually these beds will have a single low voltage electric motor to allow for adjustment of the bed in addition to no flip mattresses so you are not required to rotate the top every year.  The beds also offer inner high density foam, and reinforcement along the edges to prevent people from rolling off.

The next level of bed comes with dual acting adjustable massage functionality.  Allowing the individual to experience a massage while in bed, this can be ideal for those on long periods of bed rest.  While typically senior citizens are the ones using these types of bed it’s not uncommon to find them in homes of those with chronic illness or disability of some kind.  I have seen them in many different homes and they fill a variety of needs.

Know what you need to know

Aggressively positioned as a comfortable night’s sleep the availability of choices in the adjustable bed market has sky rocketed over the last twenty years. Although the beds have been in use in hospitals across the country for much longer than that, the market for adjustable beds has really become more and more diverse.  This is mainly due to the children of elderly parents finding the benefits of an adjustable bed can extend beyond those who use the beds for medical purposes.

Really if you haven’t ever laid down in an adjustable bed you are missing a great little relaxing experience.  In today’s market the bed is sold as a luxurious upgrade to the standard flat bed.  It features dual adjusting motors, heat, and even a massage functionality all this is on top of recline and adjust positions that can elevate either the head or the feet.

Additionally there are benefits to overall health.  Once thought to be just a benefit to those with terminal illness as a way to more successfully administer aide.  The adjustable beds are now used to assist people with asthma, heart disease and even acid reflux.  Because there are so many new ways to benefit from the adjustable bed they have seen a big increase to popularity.  Compared to the normal flat bed they can help in the recovery and aide of people with back pain, joint pain and arthritis.

When it comes to the purchase of new beds all the reviews and information can be confusing.  There are many companies that will really try to oversell you.  Navigating your way through all the info can be difficult, so you need to know what you need to know.  The mattress will be bent and folded hundreds of times during its life, so making sure the threading and foam is of the highest quality.  Next is the bed frame, because it houses all the electric motor and holds the bed in place.  Again there will be a lot of friction on the frame so make sure it is made of high quality wood.  Finally the motor itself will have to lift the weight of whoever uses it over and over so the motor should sound low and powerful, not high pitched and strained.

Adjustable Beds: Options, Availability and Pricing

These beds are no doubt expensive with wide variety of functions they are capable of performing.  Most people however, feel that the benefits gained far outweigh the large cost associated.  These beds are available in many styles, colors and price ranges and they provide a lot of health advantages.

The types of beds you find for cheap are almost always used or second-hand models.  Usually you can find listings for these in the local newspaper or on the local news website classified sections.  You can also find them on self service resale websites like amazon, ebay and the like, just head to the sections that contain furniture and home care equipment.  Even though they may be hand me downs used beds are hardly ever used mercilessly, in other words they have light use and can last a long time.

Cheap Adjustable Beds

Cheap adjustable beds can provide both function and style and are often a better way to go than they typical home care flat bed.  Because they offer such comfort to a variety of problems they are often worth the investment even if you only use it for a few months.

Used Adjustable Beds

Please consider a few things before buying a used adjustable bed.  Make sure the base is free from major cracks or splits.  The motor on these beds is really heavy not to mention the reinforcing bars that are used to hold the body upright.  Because of this the frame will be the first thing to show signs of wear and tear.  Next examine the remote operating system to ensure the remote works properly and is free of electric malfunctions.  The bed should incline and decline without the motor skipping and you should hear the motor strain too much without anyone in the bed.  Once a person is lying down the motor may sound a little different which is normal because of the weight being lifted.

Theses beds come in all the same sizes as normal beds but they do not have box springs, as a result the actual mattress itself is bent and folded quite a bit.  Make sure the tubing thread along the side of the bed is not cracked open and that the mattress fabric is not splitting.  These beds will have normal wear and tear but for the price you pay it is well worth your time to make sure they are functioning properly.

Variety and Brands

There are different varieties and brands of adjustable beds such as Simmons or Leggett and Platt. If you want a different variety or brand name Electric adjustable beds are generally preferred to regular as they will be much more of a luxurious convenience than standing up and jerking the bed around; however they are generally more expensive. The problem with some brands is, the adjustable bed frame is cheap to lure you in, but it’s made a certain way so that the only mattress that fits is their own custom designed mattress for your specific model of bed. So when comparing adjustable bed prices, be sure to look at all of the factors.

Generally the prices for these beds range from just over a thousand to even tens of thousands of dollars, but it should be relatively easy to find an entire package of the mattress, the bedding sets, the sheets, the contour pillows, the covers and the adjustable bed frame for under $5,000. If you are looking for cheap mattresses, you should look elsewhere, but if you are looking for luxury mattresses, you should strongly consider adjustable beds.

Before you go out and buy one you will want to make sure you compare several models and choose the one that will meet the needs of your family both now, and in the future as the individuals needs may change over time.