9/6/2026
How to choose a hospital bed for home
Choosing a hospital bed for home starts with the patient and the room, not with a specification sheet. This guide covers the practical differences between manual and electric beds, what the function count actually changes, the sizes to measure before you order, side rails, the mattress, and the factors that shape a quotation. HOSPIcare is the bed and medical furniture line of Medica-Lab Group, manufacturing in Badr City near Cairo and in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
When a family needs a hospital bed for home care
The need usually appears when the patient spends most of the day in bed, cannot sit up or get out unaided, or when the carer has to raise the upper body several times a day for meals and medication. An ordinary domestic bed offers none of that adjustment, and its fixed height makes every transfer to a chair hard on the carer's back.
Before ordering, settle three things: how much the patient can move, how many hours of care are given each day, and how much floor space the room has. Those three answers decide most of what follows, from manual or electric to the function count and the type of side rail.
Manual or electric?
A manual bed is adjusted with a crank that moves the backrest and the leg rest. The MLP-31 is a good example: two manual functions, backrest inclination to 75 degrees, leg rest to 50 degrees, with an IV pole and a urine bag holder. It suits households where the carer is physically able to crank and where the patient's position does not change often.
An electric bed moves the same sections with actuators driven from a handset held by the patient or the carer. It is the practical answer when positions change through the night as well as the day, or when the patient can adjust independently. Our electric models include the MLP-02 with three functions and the MLP-01 with multi-function electric positioning, protective bumpers and silent high-endurance castors with strong brakes. A backup battery is available as an option.
Two functions, three functions, or multi-function
Functions are simply the movements the bed can make: raising the backrest, raising the leg rest, and raising or lowering the whole bed. A two-function bed does the first two. A three-function bed adds height adjustment, and that is the change the carer feels most, because it brings daily care and transfers to a comfortable working height.
Our three-function models include the MLP-02, the MLP-03 and the MLP-21 CareLuxe, whose wooden-finish head and footboards sit better in a bedroom than a clinical frame. The MLP-01 offers multi-function positioning and can be ordered with a bed extension, under-bed lighting or central braking.
Size and clearance in the room
Most of our models are 200 cm long and 90 cm wide; the MLP-31 runs to 210 cm by 95 cm. Add clearance of at least half a metre on one side so the carer can stand and work safely, plus enough space at the foot of the bed for a wheelchair to pass.
Measure the doorway of the room and of the entrance before you order. Beds are delivered flat and assembled in the room, but knowing the openings in advance avoids surprises on delivery day. For larger patients, 120 cm wide models with a 300 kg safe working load are available, the MLP-11 and MLP-12, three-function frames with silent braked castors and removable ABS head and foot panels.
A home bed for an elderly relative: rails, castors, height
For older patients the priorities are the side rails and height adjustment. The MLP-03 comes with full-length side rails, which help when the patient moves a lot in their sleep. Rails should raise and lower easily with one hand, so the carer is not tempted to leave them up all the time.
Silent castors with brakes let the bed be moved for cleaning or closer to the window, with the brakes locked for everyday use. Removable ABS head and foot panels make cleaning simpler and soften the clinical look in a bedroom, which matters when the bed shares a room.
The mattress and the accessories that complete the bed
Buy the mattress with the bed rather than after it, because its size follows the sleeping surface. The RESTIVA range covers foam and air mattresses for pressure care; which one fits depends on how many hours the patient spends in bed and on the guidance of the care team following the case.
The accessories families ask for most are the MLH-34 over-bed table for meals and reading, the MLH-41 bedside cabinet, and a stainless steel IV pole. The MLP-32 integrates a toilet into the bed with a manual crank, a practical answer when moving the patient to the bathroom is difficult.
What shapes the quotation
We do not publish figures, because every order differs. What shapes a quotation is: manual or electric, the function count, the type of side rail, the mattress chosen, options such as a backup battery, central braking or a bed extension, then the quantity, the delivery city and the scope of installation, warranty and after-sales service. Send us the situation and the room measurements and we will put a written offer together.
Supply, installation and after-sales
HOSPIcare is the bed and medical furniture line of Medica-Lab Group, founded in 1984, with its first factory in Badr City near Cairo from 1994 and a factory in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, since 2022, licensed by the SFDA as a local manufacturer under licence ML-2023-MD-0885, with products carrying the Saudi Made mark. Our quality system is certified to ISO 13485:2016.
We supply new beds direct from the factory, with installation in the home and a handover briefing for the carer, plus spare parts and service. We work with hospitals, charities, home-care providers and families directly, on single units as readily as on large orders. From Saudi Arabia, call +966 58 068 4623.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best type of hospital bed for home?
There is no single best type. If the patient changes position often or can operate the bed themselves, a three-function electric bed is the practical choice. If movement is limited and the carer can crank comfortably, a two-function manual bed such as the MLP-31 is enough. Room space usually settles the decision.
What is the difference between a manual and an electric bed?
A manual bed is set with a crank turned by the carer; an electric bed is set by actuators and a handset. The practical difference is who makes the adjustment and how often: an electric bed lets the patient reposition without help and reduces daily effort, while a manual bed is simpler and needs no power point beside it.
Is an electric bed suitable for an elderly person?
Yes, provided the right side rails are chosen and the height is set properly. The handset lets an older patient raise the backrest without waiting for help, and lowering the bed to its minimum height makes getting out easier. Models such as the MLP-03, with full-length side rails, suit this use at home.
What determines the price of a hospital bed for home?
The function count, manual or electric, the type of side rail, the mattress, and options such as a backup battery or central braking. Quantity, delivery city, installation, warranty and after-sales scope all count as well. Send us the details of the case and the room size and we will prepare a written offer.
What size should I plan for in a bedroom?
Most models are 200 cm by 90 cm, and the MLP-31 runs to 210 cm by 95 cm. Allow at least half a metre of clearance on one side for the carer, keep space at the foot of the bed for a wheelchair to pass, and measure the door openings before ordering.