The Complete Guide to Overbed Tables

The Complete Guide to Healthcare Sleepers

Most hospitals provide an area in each patient room specifically designated as a family zone, wherein family members and friends are permitted to stay, whether it be for a few hours or overnight. The family zone of a patient room is located farthest away from the door and usually includes comfortable furniture to keep guests content when they need to be in the room for long periods. Sleeper chairs are often supplied so that friends and family can rest at the hospital when watching over their loved ones.

Types of Sleeper Chairs

Several styles of sleeper chairs and sofas are available. 

Pull-Out Sleepers

Pull-out sleeper chairs look similar to club chairs and have a seat that pulls forward to extend into a bed. The benefit to this type of sleeping chair is that it has a small initial footprint and is usually portable for easy cleaning. However, be sure your patient rooms have enough space for this type of sleeper to pull out all the way without impeding caregivers while they work. Because the clearance for these convertible chairs is much greater extended than when it’s closed up, you’ll need to make sure that healthcare providers can move around the sleeper while it’s pulled out in bed form.

Side-Opening Sleepers 

Side-opening sofa beds look similar to loveseats and contain a mattress that pulls out from the side, hence the name. Like pull-out sleepers in chair form, side-opening loveseat sleepers have a small initial footprint, but the room must accommodate the larger footprint that the unit takes up when used as a bed.

Daybed Sleepers 

Daybed sleepers look like sofas. This type of sleeper couch takes up no additional space in a room when used as a bed because it works via a flip-down back that is folded on top of the seat and then laid on.

Double Sleepers 

Most commonly used in pediatric hospitals, double sleepers are provided for parents who want to stay in the hospital with their child. This type of hospital sofa bed is usually pull-out style but twice the size of the average sleeper.

Questions to Ask Before Selecting Sleeper Sofas and Chairs

What will the room truly accommodate? Be honest about how much space you have to work in your patient rooms. You may prefer a pull-out sleeper, but if there isn’t enough clearance between the wall and the patient bed, a daybed sleeper could be a better option.

Are the walls protected? Many people don’t account for wall protection when selecting new furniture. Because they’re used for long hours at a time by hospital guests, sleepers can get moved around in a rough manner. To prevent scuffs on your patient room walls, opt for a sleeper with a wall-saver backrest design.

How will it be cleaned? When it comes to furniture, there are few things in a healthcare facility that are more important than cleanliness. Most sleeper couches are upholstered in healthcare-grade vinyl, which is antimicrobial and a breeze to keep clean. You may also want to look for a unit with a lot of replaceable parts, as these can be disassembled for more thorough cleaning. Make sure that the space where guests sit is separate from the space where guests will rest their heads to sleep.

Is storage needed? Caregivers can use storage underneath the sleeper to store pillows and blankets. It can also be a safe space for guests to keep personal belongings. Some patient rooms may already have space for these purposes, but if yours don’t, then choosing sleepers with built-in storage is probably the best option.

The Complete Guide to Healthcare Recliners

If your medical facility is looking to purchase new recliners, you may be overwhelmed by the options. How are you supposed to know the difference from one to the next? This guide is a great starting point.

Treatment Recliners

Treatment recliners have a simple, functional design and are meant to be used for short periods during exams or clinical use. This type of chair is often used for dialysis, oncology, and geriatric situations where the patient will not need to be seated in the chair for more than a couple of hours. Treatment recliners are the most basic form of healthcare recliner and are designed for function above style.

Senior Living and Long-Term Care Recliners

Long-term care recliners are designed for senior living and nursing homes. They feature a more residential look than treatment recliners and usually include rocking or gliding functionality. These seating options are typically smaller than most healthcare recliners, making it easier for senior citizens to get out of the seat. These recliners typically have limited customizable features, so what you see is what you get.

 

Patient Room Recliners

Patient room recliners are made with commercial-grade durability and are heavy-duty for continuous use. Most include replaceable parts so that if a backrest, seat, or other portion of the chair breaks or tears, you can simply replace that one part rather than having to purchase a completely new recliner.

 

When it comes to customization, patient room recliners have plenty to choose from. You can choose how you want the chair to recline, how mobile you want it to be, and what accessories you need. Common recliner accessories include footrests and IV holders. There are even patient room recliners with heated seats. Drop and fold-down transfer arm options are also available for patients who need to be transferred from a wheelchair. 

When it comes to transportation of the unit, you can choose from small wheels that are good simply for moving the unit out of the way for cleaning or bigger wheels for actually moving patients from place to place in the recliners.

Specialty Recliners

Specialty recliners come in a wide variety and are designed for very specific purposes.

 

Trendelenburg recliners are used when a patient’s position needs to be moved to a negative recline as quickly as possible. For example, if a patient were to pass out while in the recliner, the Trendelenburg tilt allows caregivers to tilt the bed backward to keep the patient’s feet higher than the head.

Bariatric recliners can support 750 pounds or more. Ideal for larger patients, these recliners have much wider seats than standard options and limited recline for the safety of both the user and caregivers.

Pediatric recliners are designed to accommodate children comfortably. As you might expect, this type of recliner is typically built smaller than average for use in the children’s wing. Many options are equipped to support gaming systems so that the patient can stay busy during what may otherwise be an uncomfortable or even frightening visit to the doctor.

 

The Complete Guide to Office Décor

The right office décor can make or break the look of any room in your home or office. To learn what type of décor you should incorporate into your space, read this comprehensive guide to office décor.

Wall art comes in all sizes and styles to complement the look of your workspace. Whether shabby chic or elegantly traditional, the options are endless, and you’re sure to find something that coordinates well with your workspace. Choose from gallery-wrapped canvas paintings, motivational posters, and framed prints. No matter what you choose, you’ll love how it instantly uplifts the mood in the room.

 

Desktop accessories include all those little items you use to keep your desk neat and organized. From letter trays and desk pads to photo frames and desktop décor, these items make it easy to keep your workspace living up to its full potential. These desktop accessories have the functionality to get the job done, and they’re also available in styles that will make your desk look better.

Artificial plants can be real mood boosters in an office setting, producing similar effects as real plants. Even nature photography will do! When images of greenery and plant life are present in the workplace, worker productivity increases.  

Accent chairs and occasional tables may be functional office furniture, but they’re also décor. These stylish additions may not always be necessary, but they look great. Choose from a huge range of styles and sizes to offer guests a stylish seat in your private office or waiting room.

Accent lighting also serves multiple purposes. These pieces of décor help illuminate a room, but they also add a little character.  

Clocks are a timeless trend that has stuck around despite the rise in cell phones and smartwatches. Whether a huge wall clock or a small desk clock, these elements of décor are true statement pieces, designed to capture attention and tell time.

Mirrors look great in almost every room when used correctly. From small sunburst mirrors that bring a pop of shine to huge statement mirrors that help a room look bigger, there are many options. Your only task is figuring out which option you like best!

Area rugs make great additions to a homelike private office or reception area. Available in many colors, patterns, and styles, the right area rug can help define a space.

Decorative boards go above and beyond your basic steel frame whiteboard. Whether it’s a colored glass board, a wood frame whiteboard, or a steel frame blackboard, these simple elements turn your everyday conference accessory into a piece of office décor you can be proud of.