Sleep Safe Bed

Several years ago we asked for and received a "sleep safe bed" from insurance.  We have both private insurance and Medicaid (for Ellie only). These are beds that you can raise the height overall, raise the head or feet or both, and have safety rails on the sides to keep the children from rolling out of bed.

This allows us to care for her more easily.  With the raised height we can lift her into and out of bed without bending over.  We can get her dressed and change her briefs more easily.  With capability to raise the head and feet we can position her more comfortably and change her position easily to prevent bedsores.  We can raise the head of her bed to facilitate cathing her and improve reflux.  The side rails keep her in bed in case of seizures.  We really love having her Sleep Safe Bed.

There are 2 main Safety Beds that I know of, Beds by George and Sleep Safe.

I truly just took what my homecare company recommended and didn't research safety beds before asking insurance.  I didn't really know I had options.

I do love Ellie's Sleep Safe, but there are things I would change about it.  I haven't looked into Beds by George a ton, but some of the things I don't like about the sleep safe, I know that Beds by George has solved those problems.  So, if I was going to do it again, I would look at them both and depending on what I found, I might choose Beds by George.  I can't say for certain because I haven't done the research.  But I will spell out for you the things I DON'T like about her Sleep Safe.

The Sleep Safe (at least the one we got) is veneer, not real wood.  It scratches and you would never be able to refinish it.  It is difficult to scratch, but I love real wood and dislike veneers for all furniture in general.  Beds by George do not use any veneer, there are all real solid wood.

The height of the bed even at it's lowest and even with the side rail down is difficult for me (the Mom) to climb into.  It is also difficult for siblings to climb in to.  I like my kids to snuggle into bed with her just to snuggle, or watch the ipad, or read.  It is good for both of them.  I like to lay down by her too.  I am 5'5"...I can do it, but it is hard.

With her sleep safe bed, it takes 2 hands to lower the side rails because there are 2 latches (one on each side).  I supposed you could do it with one hand, but it would be a multi-step process.  Beds by George are a one handed latch to lower the side rails.

Our Sleep Safe is hydrolic (Electric).  I like having it electric because I can start cathing her and then with 1 hand I reach for the remote and raise the head of her bed to get more pee out.  But there are problems with it being electric.  If the power goes out I have NO way to change the height or position.  There should be a manual override for emergencies, but there is not.

Because it is hydrolic there is a large column under the bed that sits directly on the ground.  So although there are wheels it is virtually impossible to move the bed from place to place easily.

Being hydrolic also makes it VERY heavy.

Sleep safe does make a manual only bed (no electricity at all), but I'm not sure I would choose that either.

The latches for the side rails on the sleep safe bed pop out easily and scratch the bedposts when the rails oare lowered.  It is not a safety issue, they don't pop out while the side rails are up...but when you lower them down if you have not carefully secured them, they will easily scratch the bed.  I did it on the first day we got the bed...it made me sad and mad.

They should have people that know how to disassemble and assemble them.  Homecare will come set it up for you the first time.  But after that if you move rooms or houses, you are on your own...and it is tricky!

Once again, I love the sleep safe bed, but there are things I would change.

Here are the steps to getting a safety bed:
#1) Research beds a bit and decide which things are important in a bed
#2) Make a list of reasons your child needs a safety bed.  Make sure to include safety issues such as:  my child has seizures and could fall out of bed at night.
#3) Call your insurance to see which homecare (durable medical equipment suppliers) companies are approved by them.  (Optional) If desired, you can also ask if they approve safety beds, and what their requirements are.  (Are they certain diagnosis, etc...?)
#4) Call the approved homecare company and make an appointment.  Tell them what you are trying to get.  Often it will be the same company you get your child's wheelchair from.  (Here in Utah I use IHC Wheelchair shop in SLC and love them!)
#5) Ask the homecare company for their fax number
#6) You will need a prescription or letter written by your pediatrician or other Dr.  It will need a diagnosis on it.
#7) Give the Dr. the fax number for the homecare company and have him fax his letter.  Ask him to call you when he has completed the letter and fax.  Follow up with Dr. if they don't call you within a reasonable amount of time.
#8) (optional) Once the Dr. calls you to tell you it's done, call homecare to make sure they got the faxed prescription.
#9) Go to the homecare appointment, bring your lists of reasons you need a bed with you and which things are important in a bed.
#10) Homecare will write a letter to insurance.  Here is a sample letter.  http://sleepsafebed.com/about-insurance/sample-letters/
and
http://bedsbygeorge.com/safety/insurance/sample_letters.php
#11) Homecare will order the bed
#12) Homecare will call you when they have heard from insurance.  If you don't hear from them within a reasonable amount of time, call them to follow up.
#13)  If you are denied, appeal.  Go through all the levels of appeal. ALWAYS APPEAL!!!  Sometimes they just deny everything on the first try to see who is really serious about wanting the item.  You can have additional Dr.'s write notes, get hospital records/Dr. records, etc if desired (not required...but possible).

How did it work?  Did you follow the steps above and get a bed?  Which safety bed does your child use?  How do you like it?  What do you or don't you like about it?  Did you have a good experience with a particular homecare company ordering a bed?  Please comment below.