How to Elevate a Mattress for the Handicapped
Special arrangements often have to be made for people with disabilities since they can have limited mobility or specialized equipment that makes navigation difficult. The bed is one area that often requires adjustment, since the disabled person may be elevated higher than normal due to a motorized chair and the bed must then be elevated to make it safer and easier to get in and out of. If you don't have a bed designed for this kind of situation, you can still elevate the bed safely with some basic materials. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Position the bed against the wall, if possible. This will help prevent the mattress from slipping after you've elevated it, since the wall can help hold it in place when someone is getting on or off of it.
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Add a second box spring under the mattress. Most mattresses have a box spring underneath them to help cushion the mattress and provide support that extends its lifespan. Adding a second one will not cause any damage and can elevate the mattress significantly for use by a handicapped person.
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Place a thin rubber mat between the box springs and between the top box spring and the mattress. This provides added friction that will help hold the mattress and box springs in place, reducing the risk of slipping.
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Tips & Warnings
Place the bed into a higher bed frame if you still need to add some extra height to the bed. Some frames are adjustable as well to give you more flexibility.
Air wedges are also available that can be placed under the mattress to elevate it on command via remote control.
