Bed accessories

Common bed accessories include side rails, assist poles, bed cradles, under-mattress supports, extension kits and various positioning aids. The right combination depends on the person’s mobility, size, pressure care needs and how carers provide support. An occupational therapist or physiotherapist can recommend which accessories are clinically appropriate, and our team can then help match those recommendations to specific products and brands. You can also review options in our product catalogues .

No. Bed rails can reduce falls for some people but increase entrapment, climbing or injury risk for others, especially if they try to climb over or have confusion, agitation or certain movement patterns. Rails should only be used after a risk assessment by an allied health professional, and they must be installed and used in line with clinical guidance and manufacturer instructions. In some situations, a floorline bed, monitoring or other strategies may be safer than rails.

Not always. Many bed accessories are brand-specific or model-specific and are tested and approved as part of that system. Mixing parts from different brands can affect safety, weight limits and warranty. We recommend checking compatibility with our team, the product documentation and your therapist before purchasing. Where possible, we match accessories to the same brand and series as your hospital bed.

In many cases we can install bed accessories when we deliver the bed, or provide guidance to facilities and carers. All installation must follow manufacturer instructions, weight limits and any clinical recommendations. If the accessory has been prescribed by an allied health professional, we are happy to coordinate setup times around their visit so positioning and use can be checked on the day.

The safest approach is to start with a clinical assessment. Your occupational therapist or physiotherapist can look at mobility, transfer methods, pressure care, cognition and carer tasks, then recommend specific accessories such as rails, assist poles or cradles. Once you have this advice, our team can help you compare brands, pricing and compatibility, and provide written quotes and brochures through our product catalogues .

In many cases, bed accessories are funded as assistive technology under the NDIS when they are recommended by an allied health professional and clearly linked to your goals, such as safer transfers, reduced falls risk or improved pressure care. Your therapist will usually document why specific accessories are needed and which models are suitable. For more information on assistive technology, you can visit the NDIS page on assistive technology explained . We can provide detailed quotes and product information for participants, support coordinators and plan managers.

Some bed accessories may be available for short-term hire through our dedicated hire service, particularly when they are part of a hospital bed package for recovery or trial periods. Current hire options and availability are listed at https://hire.shhc.com.au/ . If you are unsure whether to hire or buy, or you would like help choosing safe accessories for your bed and room layout, please contact our team .