Underpads for a hospital bed at home: sizes and set-up

Underpads for a hospital bed at home: sizes and set-up

A home hospital bed often has a narrower mattress, an adjustable frame and side rails, and those differences affect which underpads and sheets work. Measure the mattress, read the pad dimensions and keep the set-up simple so a pad stays put when the bed moves. For anything about how the bed is used or how the person is positioned, ask your equipment supplier or home care team.

How a home hospital bed differs from a regular bed

Mattress sizes vary by model, and many are narrower than a double or queen bed. A hospital bed is made to adjust: the head can be raised, and some beds also raise the knees or change height, so the mattress flexes at those points. Side rails are common, with gaps beside the mattress that matter for safety.

Before you buy anything, collect three numbers: the mattress width, length and thickness. If you are not sure, ask the supplier that provided the bed for the dimensions of the mattress and whether it has a cover that should stay on.

Underpad sizes that suit a narrower mattress

Compare the pad's width with the mattress width. A pad slightly narrower than the mattress covers where the person lies and stays on the surface. A much wider pad needs somewhere to go, and it can bunch near the rails. A pad much narrower than the mattress leaves part of the sheet unprotected.

Common sizes in our catalogue are 23 x 36 in (about 58 x 91 cm), 30 x 36 in (76 x 91 cm), 36 x 36 in (91 x 91 cm) and a longer 36 x 54 in (91 x 137 cm). A longer pad, such as the Reusable Underpad 36 x 54in, Moderate Absorbency, covers more of the mattress length in one piece. Either type can work on a hospital bed, so browse washable underpads and bed pads and disposable underpads side by side.

Tuck-in flaps and bed rails

Some pads are listed with side flaps (some makers call them wings) that fold under the mattress to keep the pad from shifting. Read the description to see whether a pad has them and how wide they are. On a bed with rails, the flaps have to pass between the mattress and the rail, so follow the instructions on the pack and ask your supplier or care team whether tuck-in flaps suit your bed.

Rails and their gaps are a safety matter, so how they are set and how the bed should be made around them is a question for your supplier or care team. As a general rule, keep pads, sheets and blankets from bunching near the rails, and keep loose fabric away from the bed's controls and moving parts.

Keeping a pad in place when the head of the bed is raised

When the head of the bed is raised, a person can slide toward the foot, and the pad and sheet often move with them. The result can be a wrinkled pad that is no longer under the hips.

  • After you make the bed, adjust it to the positions used most, then look at where the pad sits. Move it until it covers the hips in those positions.
  • Smooth the sheet and pad after each change in position.
  • Check the description for adhesive strips or a non-slip backing, which are meant to hold a pad to the sheet.
  • Choose a pad long enough to still cover the hips after the person shifts.

How the person is positioned, and how to reduce sliding, is a question for the nurse, occupational therapist or physiotherapist on your home care team.

Mattress protectors and fitted sheets for hospital bed sizes

Do not assume a twin. Compare the width, length and thickness in the listing with your mattress. The Mattress Protector Zipper Vinyl 36 x 80 x 6.5 in gives three measurements in its title, which is the level of detail to look for in any listing. Ask your supplier whether a cover is already on the mattress and whether they recommend leaving it as it is.

For fitted sheets, shop by measurement, not by bed name. Because the bed moves, choose a sheet that is neither so tight it pulls loose when the bed adjusts nor so loose it bunches.

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Keeping supplies within reach of the bedside

Make a change kit so that a change takes a minute and not a search through cupboards. Keep it in a caddy or basket on a shelf or table next to the bed, at waist height so a helper does not need to bend or stretch.

  • One or two folded pads and a spare fitted sheet
  • A towel and a few wipes
  • Disposable gloves, if your care team recommends them
  • A bag for used pads and a bin with a lid
  • Hand soap or sanitizer

Keep the kit clear of the bed's moving parts and cords, and do not block the person's access to a phone or call bell. Our checklist of medical supplies for caring for aging parents at home covers the wider list of items for the room.

Questions for your home care team or equipment supplier

  • What are the exact mattress dimensions, and does the mattress have a cover I should keep on?
  • How should rails be set, and how should sheets and pads be made around them?
  • How should the person be positioned when the head is raised, and who can show us?
  • If the bed has a pressure-relieving mattress, can pads and protectors go on top, and which kinds?
  • Who do we call if the bed or the bedding is not working?

Common questions

Can I use a regular twin mattress protector?

Only if its measurements match your mattress. Compare width, length and thickness before ordering, and ask your supplier if you are unsure.

Should the long edge of the pad run across the bed or along it?

Either can work. Across the bed, a 36 in edge spans a mattress of about that width from side to side. Along the bed, the same pad covers more length and leaves a strip of sheet at each side. Try both with the bed in its usual position.

How many pads should I keep?

Keep at least one spare folded at the bedside, plus enough in rotation to cover laundry days if you use washable pads.

If you are weighing sizes for a particular bed, send us a note through the contact page and we will help you choose.