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The bedroom is a haven and a place of privacy. Storage should be adequate and accessible. Lighting, heating, and ventilation should be easy to control. A phone, bed, or bell by the bed are communication considerations. A table by the bed with a well-lit lamp is a necessity as is a nightlight. A substitute for a table is a wall- or bed-attached shelf to keep items in close reach.
Beds must be comfortable, easy to get in and out, and in a good location. Most beds are between 15" and 22." Transferring is best when the bed is as high as a wheelchair. Individuals with stiff hips and who can walk might want a higher bed. To raise the height of a bed, screw-in legs, blocks under legs, an extra mattress, and a mattress insert are options. Many bed aids make it easier to change positions in bed. Some even can be made at home. Bed aids include:
A swivel bar on a pole to move from lying, to sitting, to standing.
A freestanding trapeze to move into a variety of positions.
A rope ladder to pull oneself up from a lying to sitting position. A home-made version can be made with a heavy sash cord and wooden dowels.
A bar attached to the headboard for pulling up or turning over.
A bed rail on one side for stability. (A handrail can be made from metal. tubing and attached to a bed with brackets. Tape wrapped around the bar can be used to accommodate a weak grasp.
Grab handles on the bed sides.
An adjustable bed board under the mattress can give support at an incline when lying flat. The incline can be at the head or feet. Electric adjustable beds do the same thing and many models are available. When buying one, consider position versatility, control design, and manual control in case of power failure.
Pillows can be used in many ways for support, too. For example, a wedge-shaped pillow against the headboard behind a pile of pillows gives support. Wedge-shaped backrests can also be used or improvised with a upside-down straight chair forming an incline behind a pillow. #1155
Hale, G. (1979). The bedroom. In The source book for the disabled (pp. 94-97). New York: Paddington Press.
Keyword: Daily skills |
