Evening everyone
I’m looking on behalf of my parents about companies that deal with Split/Dual electric adjustable beds and electric riser recliner chairs
I had a scan through various places but it’s quite overwhelming with the choice and I’m curious if any of you have had any positive experiences with such companies?
My father weighs over 20 stone so obviously beds and chairs that can support his weight and if there’s a company that can also potentially install new and discard old bed. That would be great
We live in Cambridgeshire
Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated
Many thanks
James
1 Like
My mum spent over £1,000 on an adjustable bed without knowing much about them. We had to take it to the tip when only a few months old. The resale value is nil.
I dad needs an adjustable bed, you can get one free, on loan, via Social Services or NHS. In Hampshire, where I live, they have a joint store, so whichever service requests it, the source is the same. Specifically designed to meet the needs not just of the patient, but those looking after them too.
1 Like
@JHobbs87 hiya James welcome to the forum .i hope you have had a nice day. I had a thought you could ring your doctors surgery ask gp for the occupational therapist to come out and see you and your parents at there house and discuss all these things with them and you.They should know about these sorts of things.whether you can get one on loan via social services or the nhs. Also I know someone who got a reclining chair I don’t know if it was a riser but they got it from a charity shop it was virtually brand new .
There is a company called med equip and they supply hospitals and social services With equipment that hospitals and social services loan off them. For hospitals and for patients at home but people have to have an assessment for them. I know this because I had a bad accident so I have one of these. Either the hospital or social services loan it from Medequip it was at home when I came home.
They also have a parent company called manage at home where people can buy things from. But before doing that I would make an appointment for an occupational therapist to come out from the gp surgery and you have a talk with them and tell them what your parents need and they should be able to help you and give you information. And if there is anything else your parents are struggling with to help them , and what you can get for free or on loan. Worth asking first.
.I hope this is useful let us know how you get on ok. And one last thing if you ever buy anything for your parents because they are disabled you can claim the VAT back if you didn’t know .take care.
1 Like
Seconding the point above about asking Social Services or the GP for an OT assessment first, James, before you buy anything for your dad. They can often supply a profiling bed on loan at no cost, and an OT will spec it around his weight, which matters a lot here. The one thing to check is the safe working load, as a fair few standard issued beds top out around 18 stone, so for him you may be looking at a bariatric profiling bed and that’s worth flagging at the assessment.
If you do end up buying privately, anything for a disabled person is VAT zero-rated, so don’t let a showroom add 20% on, you just self-declare. Living Made Easy is good for comparing models without the sales push. Has anyone done his OT assessment yet, or are you starting from scratch?
1 Like
Thanks everyone for getting back to me and offering your thoughts, advice and suggestions
Truly is appreciated and I love the community and support spirit this forum provides. Certainly makes me feel less alone trying navigate through all this
We’ve now made a referral for a OT to visit us to assess the house etc and see what can be provided. Definitely seems the best option currently
Many thanks again
Have a great week
James
2 Likes
@JHobbs87 hiya James, that’s great that you have made a referral for the OT to visit. May I suggest that anything you want help with , support and advice. And also to see what you are entitled to with reqarding to you loaning free equipment for your parents. I would make a list.then you can go through the list with the OT, and she will probably have advice on other things you have not thought about. Then you won’t forget anything as it’s easy to do when you are trying to think of everything all at once .You have a good week to and take care.
1 Like
Good idea. It would be even better if they gave details of what they could provide when making the appointment, so you could tick what you wanted to talk about when they arrive, but that might mean more money!
The hard part for an OT is that until theyv’e seen the environment and the person needing the equipment, they can’t make any suggestions - for example, in our area the local authority won’t recommend stairlifts for most stroke patients because the way they sit can jam the runners. But it depends on whether they’re affected down one side or not - not every stroke patient is.