Buyers Guide for Profiling Beds

This useful guide, written for busy Care Home Managers will peel back the covers of the marketers’ brochure and explain in simple language what exactly you need to look for when selecting your next Profiling Bed for your Care Home.

1. Price

Don't let the price blind you, find out what the real long-term cost is with these helpful questions.

2. Delivery

Is delivery and installation included within the price or just delivery? And who delivers the bed, is it a national courier or the supplier's own van and driver?

3. Warranty

How long is the warranty, and what does it cover? Does it include the moving parts? And who repairs it if there is a warranty failure?

4. Parts

If it falls outside of warranty, how much do parts cost? A good comparator would be the cost of a handset.

5. Low Beds

The description 'low' is ambiguous. You say your car is fast, but fast compared with what? Get the facts and establish exactly what they mean when they say 'low' and don't accept anything above a 21cm platform height as a 'low' bed.

6. Max Working Height

Ensure the platform rises high enough to ensure staff can deliver appropriate care without risk of injury. Reject anything lower than 61cm Max Height.

7. Motors

Will they be enclosed or on full display?  To reduce prices, many manufacturers fail to cover the outside end-boards leaving the electric drive motors on display. Remember, this is a bedroom, not a factory.

8. Side Rails

Are they included within the price? And do they comply with BS EN 60601-2-52:2010?

9. Weight

What is the max user weight of this bed? With obesity creeping in on us, we are seeing greater demand for bigger capacity. Insist on a minimum of a 28 stone/180KG SWL.

10. Colours

Do you have any options on the colour, and will it blend with the existing furniture? Beech has historically been the most popular but is rapidly being supplanted by others such as oak and wenge.