Bed Rails for Seniors: What To Look For When Buying

person holding a hospital bed rail

Assistive devices are an essential tool for many different populations. These devices can be used for mobility, eating, showering, cleaning, etc. While assistive devices are common amongst seniors, they can also be used by pregnant women, those with fall risks, individuals recovering from injuries or surgeries, and those with disabilities. One of the most valuable and relied-on assistive devices is a bed rail.

A safety bed rail ensures that individuals are safe when sleeping and provides a sense of safety for those with mobility issues. Bed rails can vary significantly in size, style, and type. Many different bed rails may fit some individuals and their needs better than others. Knowing what bed rail best fits you and your needs can ensure that you get all you can from your purchase.

In addition to safety and fall prevention, bed rails also provide support and stability. They can be used for assistance when shifting positions within a bed and getting in or out of bed. A bed assist rail can come in very handy for individuals who need assistance maneuvering while in bed. While some individuals shouldn’t use bedrails, many will benefit from having them in use.

It would be best to consider many things regarding bed rails for seniors and what to look for when buying. Some features set certain bed rails apart from the rest. We’ll go over all of the features you should watch for when bed rail shopping and our top product picks that we love. You will be able to go into your purchase feeling confident about the bed rail for seniors you have chosen.

Bed Rails For Seniors: What To Look For When Buying

When choosing the best bed rails for seniors, there are many things to consider. Knowing what you need in a bed rail can help ensure that you are satisfied with your purchase. To help you make an informed decision, we’ll go over all the features.

Grab Bar With Adjustable Height

One of the essential features of all bed rails for seniors is a grab bar with adjustable height. This feature allows you to customize the grab bar for ultimate comfort and ease of use. An adjustable-height grab bar ensures that your bed rail is the perfect fit for the individual using it and the bed.

person grabbing a bed rail

LED Night Light

Many bed rails feature motion-activated LED lights that help prevent falls during the middle of the night. If you need to use the restroom or get a drink when the room is dark, this LED light will automatically turn on and help you navigate your surroundings. These LED lights come in very handy for fall prevention and mobility when using a bed rail.

Safety Strap

Another significant bed rail feature that almost all products need is a safety strap. These safety straps connect to the bed frame and ensure that the bed rail doesn’t move or become unstable during use. Without a safety strap, bed rails for seniors may be more at risk for shifting while being used for support, making them unstable and a possible fall risk cause. When shopping for a bed rail, be sure to find one that has a safety strap for added protection and peace of mind.

Organizer Pouch

For seniors, many bed rails include an organizer pouch for holding various items and belongings. This organizer pouch can help keep medication, glasses, and other vital items within reach. Organizer pouches on bed rails for seniors prevent needing to get out of bed to reach various items, reduce fall risk, and assist mobility and safety. If you think you would benefit from an organizer pouch on your bed rail, keep an eye out for a product that features this.

Ergonomic Bed Handle

Ease of grip and stability is an essential component of all bed rails for seniors. Because of this, we recommend purchasing a bed rail that has an ergonomic bed handle. These handles are often contoured, allowing the user to grip them at various angles. Doing so can make gripping and maneuvering within the bed much easier. These bed handles are often padded, providing a comfortable grip and ease of use.

Types of Bed Rails For Seniors

There are many different types of bed rails for seniors that provide a variety of features. Because of this, it’s essential to know the various products that you can choose from and which one fits your needs best. We’ll go over all of the most common types of bed rails.

Bed Rails With Legs

Bed rails with legs have legs that they rest on when placed on the floor rather than on the bed frame or box spring. These bed rails with legs are L-shaped and can adjust to various heights and lengths. One end will tuck beneath the mattress, and the other end will have two support legs on the floor.

elderly man using a bed handle

Legless Bed Rails

Legless bed rails do not touch the ground. Instead, they tuck beneath the mattress and offer an additional safety strap for added stability. These bed rails need to be used with larger-sized beds as the heavier mattress keeps them in place. Legless bed rails are very portable and typically can transport from one bed to another.

Dual Bed Rails

Some individuals need a bed rail on both sides of their bed, where dual bed rails come in handy. These bed rails install on either side of a mattress, with crossbars connected beneath for extra support. Dual bed rails are great for those with a higher fall risk or smaller beds.

Crossbar Bed Rails

Crossbar bed rails minimize the possibility of suffocation or entrapment. These bed rails can be adjusted in height and offer more than one grip location to ease rolling over and getting in or out of bed with their use.

Fold-Down Bed Rails

Fold-down bed rails are smaller than some other bed rails and can fold down below the mattress for easier access. They can also be easily removed for transportation or use with a different bed. Fold-down bed rails still offer stability with an added feature of easy adjustment.

Our Top Picks

Bed rails vary greatly by type and feature. Most users are looking for something different in their bed rail than others might be. Because of this, we have rounded up four different types of bed rails that we think fit many various needs. We’ll go over our top four bed rails for seniors, allowing you to make an educated decision on which one may be right for you.

EZ Adjust Bed Rail
$109.00

by Stander 

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02/19/2024 05:03 pm GMT

Stander EZ Adjust Bed Rail

The Stander EZ Adjust Bed Rail is a fold-down bed rail that can be used with various sized beds and has many great features. This bedrail can be extended to different lengths to fit all different sizes of beds and heights of users. In addition, it has a high weight capacity and can support up to 300 lbs. At 22 inches tall, it is the perfect bed rail for security and safety without taking up an abundance of space. If you are looking for a reliable bed rail with a small footprint, this product may be for you.

Another great feature of the Stander EZ Adjust Bed Rail is the storage pouch. This storage pouch is machine washable and features three pockets for easy organization. When using this product, you can always have all of your important belongings within reach. The Stander EZ Adjust Bed Rail weighs only 14 lbs and fits most beds, making it easy to take with you when you are on the go. It also features a safety strap that secures the bed rail to the bed frame for extra security.

Despite its light footprint and weight, this product offers all the stability and security you need. It helps fall prevention and safety and mobility assistance when in bed or standing up. The Stander EZ Adjust Bed Rail is perfect for those who want some added protection without a large product. It also comes at a relatively low cost, making it budget-friendly. Overall, The Stander EZ Adjust Bed Rail is easy to use, reliable, and offers a sleek, modern design.

Bed Rails For Elderly with Adjustable Height Bed Step Stool
$199.00 ($199.00 / Count)

by Step2Bed 

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02/19/2024 02:13 am GMT

Step2Bed Bed Rail

The Step2Bed Bed Rail is a bed assist rail that offers support when getting in or out of bed. Unlike the Stander EZ Adjust Bed Rail, it does not protect from falling off of the bed when in bed; instead, it offers stability when maneuvering. This bed rail is a bed rail with legs. It comes with many features that make it a reliable, assistive bed rail.

The Step2Bed Bed Rail has steel grab bars with soft foam padding on the handles, offering stability and ease of use. With two grab bars at different heights on both ends, this bed rail is the perfect bed rail for many different users. It has a large landing platform, making it easy to get in and out of bed. This bed rail has a high weight capacity of 400 pounds, so you won’t need to worry about a lack of support.

This assist rail also has a step with height adjustment, meaning you can customize it to fit your needs. Velcro safety straps provide added stability by securing the bed rail to the bed frame. It helps ensure it won’t move or shift during use, adding to fall prevention. One of the best features of this bed rail is the motion-activated LED light, which will turn on during use. It makes navigating a dark room much easier and reduces risk when going to the restroom in the middle of the night. At an affordable price, the Step2Bed Bed Rail is an ideal option for those who want assistance with limited mobility and ease of mind when getting in or out of bed.

Vive Bed Assist Rail

Adult Bedside Standing Bar
$89.99

by Vive 

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02/19/2024 02:29 am GMT

The Vive Bed Assist Rail is another bed rail with legs, though it looks different from those previously listed. It doesn’t have a platform and instead has a much smaller footprint. This bed rail does have legs, while half of the bed rail goes between the mattress and the bed frame or box spring for stability. The legs have slip-resistant caps, ensuring stability and support for getting in and out of bed or rolling over when in bed. You can use this bed rail with almost any bed or individual with adjustable leg height. The Vive Bed Assist Rail is best for those not worried about falling when sleeping but rather for those with limited mobility who need a little assistance.

The Vive Bed Assist Rail handrail keeps comfort in mind. With a padded comfort grip, you won’t worry about aches and pains when using this product. You can adjust this grip rail to various heights for different individuals. The Vive Bed Assist rail folds flat for easy storage when not in use. The bed rail can easily be transported and used with various beds. Overall, we recommend this bed rail for anyone looking for a little extra assistance without their product taking up an abundance of space.

MedPro MGrip Adjustable Contoured Bed Rail

MGrip Adjustable Contoured Bed Rail
$34.99

by MedPro 

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02/19/2024 02:24 am GMT

One of the most lightweight, versatile products we have found within bed rails for seniors is the Medpro MGrip Bed Rail. This product is ultra-compact, but that doesn’t take away from its reliability and durability. With a weight capacity of 300 lbs, this small bed rail can provide ample support. This bed rail has a contoured, ergonomic grip that allows for multiple positions, which is ideal for various users. This unique grip will enable seniors to remain independent and safe at the same time. You won’t have to sacrifice comfort for stability with a padded grip. With easy grip in multiple angles, you can easily find what works best for you and overcome any mobility limitations you may be facing.

The Medpro MGrip Bed rail fits almost any bed type, and with a compact design, it can easily transport from one bed to another. You won’t ever have to worry about leaving your bed rail behind when using this product. Adjustable height settings allow for comfortable and stable use with all different individuals. The MedPro MGrip Bed Rail features a convenient storage pouch, making it easy to keep essential belongings by your side. This product features safety straps that can secure to your bed fame of any bed size for added security and safety. If you want dual bed rails, consider using two of these products on either side of your mattress for added protection and mobility assistance. We recommend this product to anyone who needs some added assistance and wants an easy-to-use and portable product. Maintaining mobility and happiness is easy with a product like this.

Who Shouldn’t Use Bed Rails For Seniors?

Many individuals benefit from bed rails, such as seniors, pregnant women, those in recovery, and more. Nevertheless, to prevent bed rail injury, it’s important to know who should not use a bed rail. Individuals who are cognitively impaired from certain conditions, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, or are taking medications may be more at risk when using a bed rail. These bed rails for seniors can cause a higher risk of entrapment or falling. In addition, confusion, lack of muscle control, and restlessness can cause individuals to be more at risk when using bed rails for seniors.

Consider using other strategies for safety in and around the bed. Roll guards, foam bumpers, and lower bed heights can help reduce fall risk without creating an unsafe environment for the individual using them. If you are unsure of whether or not a bed rail is for you, be sure to discuss it with your doctor.

Wrapping Up

Bed rails for seniors can come in handy for an abundance of reasons. They provide added security and stability, especially for those with limited mobility. They can help keep individuals safe in bed and make it easier to roll over and stand up. Bed rails are a great way to attain this for those looking for some peace of mind.

There are many different types of bed rails with a variety of features. Knowing the kind of bed rail best for you and the features you desire can help make the shopping process much easier. When purchasing a bed rail, be sure that it is safe for the individual who plans to use it. With the right bed rail, you are sure to be satisfied with your purchase and its benefits to your life.

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