Choosing a home care bed for yourself or a loved one can be a daunting experience, especially when time is short and money is scarce. Here are the top seven factors you should consider before making a home care bed purchase.

1. Your Medical Condition -- Are you bed bound? How functional and mobile are you? Are you obese? Do you have, or are you at risk for, bed sores?
   
   
2. Your Needs -- Do you need a basic home care bed or a fully featured hospital bed? Will your current bed suffice with a medical-grade mattress?
   
   
3. Delivery and Set-Up -- How wide are your doors and hallways? Is your room on the bottom floor? How big is your room? Who will set up your bed and teach you how to use it?
   
   
4. Use -- Will a caregiver operate the bed controls, or will you? Will you need assistance getting in and out of bed? Are you at risk for falling or getting trapped in bed rails?
   
   
5. Cost -- What's your budget? Will Medicare or your insurance company help you pay? Can you afford both a bed and a mattress? New or used?
   
   
6. Timeliness -- How soon do you need a bed? Can you wait to have one built, or will you take what you can find in stock?
   
   
7. Options and Accessories -- Do you want the bed to match your décor? Do you want manual controls, or will you pay extra for electric? Do you need bed rails? What about a lift system?