Whether you or your loved one tend to roll out of bed or need assistance getting in and out, safety rails may help. There are tons to choose from, though. How can you find the best one for your needs? We’ve selected five of the highest-rated options available and discussed the features, pros, and cons to help you choose the one that will work best for you or your loved one.
Why Buy Safety Bed Rails?
There are a few common reasons that people buy safety rails for beds:
Bed Rail Buying Tips
How can you choose the best bed rail for your situation? Here are some tips.
Price
Most people have budgets they need to stick with, so price is an important consideration. Keep in mind, though, that cheaper products may not be as durable or sturdy. It may be worth spending a little extra for a rail that’s less likely to bend or break, potentially hurting somebody.
Weight Capacity
Not all bed rails can handle heavier weights, so you need to consider a rail’s weight capacity if it’s for somebody who’s a little heavier than average. The last thing you want is for the rail to collapse when in use.
Bed Type and Placement
What size bed needs the rails? Is it adjustable or fixed? Does it have a box spring or a platform? Is the bed against a wall, where you’ll only need one rail? Or is it in the middle of a room, requiring two rails? These are all things you need to consider to get the right rail for your needs.
Bed Type and Placement
What size bed needs the rails? Is it adjustable or fixed? Does it have a box spring or a platform? Is the bed against a wall, where you’ll only need one rail? Or is it in the middle of a room, requiring two rails? These are all things you need to consider to get the right rail for your needs.
Consider the Person Who Needs Them
Do you want the person using the bed rails to be able to easily move them? Or do you want to help keep somebody with dementia in bed and want something that’s a little trickier? Buying the wrong kind of rails could harm the person who needs them.
Best Adult Bed Safety Rails
1. Drive Medical Home Bed Style Adjustable Length Bed Rails
These adjustable dual rails work well at full length to keep the elderly in their bed, and they work well at the shorter length to assist people getting in and out of bed. They also adjust up or down by pushing a couple of buttons. The rails are made from 1” stainless steel, and you can purchase foam rail bumper pads to help prevent limbs from getting stuck in or injured by the rails.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
There aren’t that many complaints about these rails, especially recently. A handful of seniors reported problems like the crossbar not adjusting enough or breaking. Overall, most people are happy with this purchase and say that it helps their elderly loved one stay in or get out of bed.
Our Take
Whether you’re trying to keep your loved one in bed for their safety or you want a way to help them get out of it, these rails should work well, especially in conjunction with the available foam bumper.
2. Stander EZ Adjust Bed Rail
If you’re looking for an adjustable bed rail that will fold out of the way and includes a storage pouch, check out this option. It adjusts up to 42” and supports up to 300 pounds. The included storage pouch can hold small items like glasses, remotes, or pill bottles.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
There are a handful of complaints from adults who said this rail wasn’t sturdy, and several people said that the rail was too difficult for frail seniors to put down by themselves, especially while in the bed. However, most people said these rails were sturdy, easy to assemble, and exactly what they were looking for.
Our Take
With its included storage pouch and ability to fold out of the way, this is an excellent choice that will work well for many adults.
3. Able Life Bedside Extend-A-Rail, Adjustable Senior Bed Safety Rail
Are you looking for a simple, adjustable bed rail? This one may be what you’re looking for. It extends from 20” to 30” long and is 20” high. It supports up to 300 pounds, and you can purchase an organizer pouch to go along with it.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
The complaints about this product are varied. Some adults found it wasn’t sturdy enough. Some thought it wasn’t long enough. Others discovered it didn’t work well without a box spring. Most people, though, found this item perfect for their needs.
Our Take
As long as you don’t need to fold the rail out of your way or extend it beyond 30”, this is a great option that works well for many seniors.
4. Bed Rails Safety Assist Handle Bed Railing
Safety bed rails don’t have to be ugly metal. This one is made mostly from wood for a much more homey look. The rail folds down at the touch of a button, then easily locks back into place.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
A few customers reported problems with product defects, but most of the complaints revolve around the fact that you must have a board to attach the rails to, and the 14” height isn’t tall enough to be useful with thick mattresses.
Our Take
This rail doesn’t work well with a thick mattress, and you may need to purchase plywood to secure it firmly to the bed. However, this is generally a sturdy, easy-to-use rail.
5. Carex Easy-Up Bed Rails for Elderly - Adult Bed Hand Rails
Why choose between a fixed rail that’s sturdy and a rail that easily raises and lowers when you can get one of each? These rails combine the best of both worlds with one fixed rail and one that’s movable.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
There is no consistency to the complaints about this product. Some seniors felt it was too hard to raise or lower the rail. A couple thought it was too difficult to assemble. A few had problems with it breaking. However, most adults found this item to be easy to assemble and install and sturdy enough for their needs.
Our Take
Unless you get a defective product, this is a good option that will work well for most seniors. The combination of the fixed and movable rails make this an ideal bed safety rail.
What Are Bed Safety Rails?
Bed safety rails are something you attach to a regular bed to either assist somebody in getting in or out or help prevent them from falling or getting out without assistance. They are a much cheaper option than investing in hospital bed assistance. Most rails are adjustable in some way, though some may remain fixed in place.
Bed Rails With Support Legs
These rails tuck under the mattress and have legs that rest on the floor. These models tend to have the best balance between stability and portability. They don’t rely on the weight of the mattress to be sturdy, so they are usually compatible with a large range of bed types and sizes.
Bed Rail Handles
These are usually small, minimalistic handles for the elderly who just need a little assistance getting in and out of bed. They usually aren’t long enough to help prevent the elderly from falling out of bed and may not be adjustable.
Crossbar Rails
Crossbar rails offer several horizontal rails, giving the person in bed many different places to hold on to help position themselves in bed or assist them getting in or out of bed. One downside is that they may trap limbs, so they might need to be buffered with pillows for the elderly who don’t remember or can’t understand why the rails are there.
Fold-Down Rails
This type of rail provides an ideal combination of length to help keep somebody in bed and ease of access for caregivers. Just remember that you will need clearance to fold the rail down, so you can’t keep a nightstand, dresser, or anything else close to the bed that will get in the way of the rails folding down.
Legless Rails
These are the easiest to use and most portable type of rails. They often tuck right under the mattress with little other support. While they’re the simplest and often cheapest, they may not be as sturdy since they rely entirely on the weight of the mattress for stability.
Dual Rails
If the bed is in the middle of the room and the rails are intended to help keep somebody in bed, then you will need dual rails rather than a single rail. You might choose an item that contains dual rails rather than purchasing two separate rails to suit your needs.
When Should You Not Use a Bed Rail?
Bed rails should not be used with restraints to force a person to stay in the bed. They may pose a safety hazard for seniors with dementia who may not understand what the rails are or why they are there. In some instances, rails will only increase the height of a fall when somebody tries to climb over them rather than preventing falls by keeping somebody in bed.
Wrapping Up
We’ve given you some great options, so hopefully you’ve been able to find the rails that will best suit your needs. Whatever you need safety rails for, there is a product out there that will be just right and will help give you peace of mind that you or your loved one will remain safe while sleeping or getting into or out of bed.
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