If you have found this you are in the position of having to buy an electric hospital bed for either yourself or a loved one, or perhaps you are just helping out a friend. It’s a big decision (for more reasons than one) and a significant investment, and though there aren’t dozens and dozens of them to choose from, you do need to feel comfortable with your choice, so a little help in getting you there can go a long way to peace of mind.

1. Price. As with most purchases, the first decision is price. How much money can be spent on this bed. For less than $500 you can purchase a semi-electric hospital bed, and that’s for the bed only. A mattress and rails adds another couple hundred dollars to the purchase – you may be lucky enough to find a package that offers a deal for about $750. A full electric bed will add upwards of $150 to the cost – and up to $2000 or more depending on the model. A bariatric bed without the mattress or rails will cost about $4000.

2. Semi-Electric or Full Electric. A semi-electric bed allows you to raise and lower the head and foot using a digital keypad, but to raise or lower the actual bed, you have to wind it manually using an included handle, which is not difficult to do. A full electric bed allows adjustment to the height of the bed as well as the position of the head and foot via a digital keypad. Read the rest of this entry »