I need to use a bed lever to help me in and out of bed, and I thought I would pass on my thoughts of what is good and bad about it.

A bed lever is a simple aid. I always called it a bed grab rail, but it’s not really a rail. I suppose a ‘bed grab arm’ describes it best. It is an L -shape, the bottom bit is a wooden baseboard and slides under the mattress. The upright bit is coated metal and makes a rounded handle that sticks up about a foot above my mattress.

It makes transferring from a wheelchair to the bed much easier. You need to have to be able to weight bare, as to use it you need to stand and turn a little. You grab hold of it, like you would grab hold of someone’s arm to transfer into or out of bed. It means I do not need help to get into and out of bed.

Pros

• It makes transferring into bed, much easier and safer.
• I am much less likely to fall; now I use the bed lever.
• As it is a barrier at the side of the bed, it makes me feel that I am less likely to topple out of bed when I turn over!
• It gives me more independence at bedtime.  I do not need to rely on carers as much.
• It is very sturdy as it slides under the bed so it feels (and is) very secure.

Cons

• Like most mobility equipment it is a little unsightly. However it is less intrusive than most aids I’ve seen! And at the end of the day, the most important thing is that it helps me.
• Sometimes it gets in the way when I want to reach to my bedside cabinet, or get something from the floor.
• Sometimes it needs repositioning, which requires lifting up the mattress a little and moving the lever. You need lots of hands to do this so I usually need help.

Overall, I think the bed lever is a great product. It is quite discreet. It is really useful, and makes transferring into and out of bed so much safer. Of all the mobility aids I have, this and my mobility scooter are probably the most useful ones I have.