What "3-motor fully electric" actually means

A 3-motor fully electric bed has three separate motors, each doing one job: the first raises the head and back, the second raises the knees and feet, and the third raises and lowers the entire bed. Every movement happens from a hand control. There are no cranks to turn and nothing for a caregiver to wind by hand at two in the morning.

That third motor is the one that separates a true hi-low bed from everything else. A semi-electric bed has motors for the head and feet but a hand crank for height, so in practice the height rarely gets changed. A standard adjustable bed has head and foot motors and no height motor at all. With a fully electric hi-low bed, the height becomes something you adjust several times a day, which is exactly the point.

Some of the beds in this report go further. The Supernal 5 and the Tuffcare T7036 and T7042 add Trendelenburg and reverse Trendelenburg positioning, which tilts the whole bed head-down or feet-down. These are often called 5-function beds, and they are worth considering if a doctor or therapist has mentioned positioning for circulation, breathing or reflux.

The functions, one at a time

Why hi-low is the function that matters most

Getting in and out of bed is where most bedroom falls happen. When the mattress is too high, feet dangle and people slide off; when it is too low, standing up takes more leg strength than many people have. A hi-low bed lets you set the mattress so the feet rest flat on the floor and the knees sit near a right angle, the same height that makes a good chair easy to rise from.

The other half of the story is the caregiver. Raising the bed close to waist height means dressing, bathing, changing linens and repositioning can all be done standing upright instead of bent over a low mattress, and that is one of the simplest ways to protect a caregiver's back over months of daily care.

When you compare beds, look at both ends of the height range. The lowest setting matters for the person in the bed, especially if they are short or have fall risk. The highest setting matters for whoever is helping them. A bed whose range covers both people is the right bed.

Sizes, side rails and the bedroom itself

The standard hospital bed is 36 by 80 inches, and many people assume that is the only choice. It is not. Depending on the model, we offer 38, 42 and 48 inch widths, full size at 53 inches, queen size at 60 inches, and a dual king made from two beds side by side so a couple can keep sleeping together while one side does everything a hospital bed does.

Side rails come in half-length and full-length styles, or as a single support rail. A half rail gives something solid to hold when sitting up or turning without closing the person in. Full rails are for situations where rolling out of bed is a real risk. Plenty of people need no rail at all.

Finally, think about how the bed will look. Upholstered, furniture-style beds such as the Ascend, Dawn House, Flexabed and Supernal hide their motors entirely, and for many families that is the difference between a bedroom and a sick room. Clinical-style beds like the Tuffcare Century trade that look for long-term-care toughness, wider clearances and heavier weight capacity.

The mattress question nobody asks until it's too late

A hi-low bed can only bend, lift and tilt as well as the mattress on top of it. A mattress that is too stiff bridges across the bed's hinge points instead of following them; one that is too soft lets the hips sink and the spine bow. The thin vinyl pads that come with many hospital beds do neither job well for someone who sleeps on it every night.

We make our own natural, organic and latex mattresses specifically for adjustable and hi-low beds, in three profiles and four firmnesses, so we can match the mattress to how the person sleeps and what their body needs. You'll find the full selection further down this page.

Buy new, rent, or buy used

If the need is long term, buying new gets you exactly the model, size and options you want, plus the full manufacturer warranty. If the need is short term, after surgery or during a recovery, renting a 3-motor fully electric bed with delivery and set-up is usually the sensible choice, and you can call 800-551-2010 to arrange it. If budget is the priority, our used hospital beds are half off the regular price.

Insurance is worth asking about. Hospital beds can qualify as durable medical equipment when prescribed, while furniture-style hi-low beds are generally sold as consumer products. Check with your provider before you buy so there are no surprises.

Your showroom checklist

• How tall is the person sleeping in the bed, and what lowest height lets their feet rest flat on the floor?
• How tall is the main caregiver, and does the bed raise high enough for them to work standing up?
• Is three-motor function enough, or has a doctor mentioned Trendelenburg or reverse Trendelenburg?
• What width and length fit the person and the room: 36, 38, 42, 48 inch, full, queen or dual king?
• Half rail, full rails, support rail, or none?
• Furniture-style upholstered look, or clinical long-term-care frame?
• Which mattress profile and firmness suits how this person sleeps?
• Who delivers, sets up, trains you on the controls, and services the bed later?