
The Original Bed
Invacare Carroll Echo Hospital Bed

The Original Beds are 8 – 10 years old.
The average lifespan of an electric bed is approximately 10 years.
The Original Beds are heavily used and often break down.
As they age, parts are harder to find and replace.
The Original Beds do not have a light at the bottom of the bed which increases the risk of falls, especially at night.
The Original Beds do not have built-in weight scales which increases the risk of injury for the more vulnerable of residents.
The Original Beds do not have a back-up battery system, so if there is a power outage the beds will lose functionality.
Residents do not have control of the bed features. A PSW has to come and assist to change the position of the bed.
The Original Beds do not have a built-in alarm and rely on a separate mat system that is plugged in which alerts the staff to movement.
This is not a great system as the mat can be moved or unplugged accidentally.
The Original Beds have limited body positioning options.
Better Bed
Stryker – Spirit Select

The Better Beds have night lights that are programmed to turn on when a resident exits the bed to help reduce trips and falls. This is especially important at night to help the resident and the door easily.
The built-in scale reduces the need to transfer residents for weighing, making the experience easy and with no discomfort.
The Better Beds have battery backup systems so when there is a power outage there is no disruption in usage.
Better Beds are wider and are able to offer a multitude of positions for the user.
Not only does this provide for more comfort on a daily basis, but it may reduce
instances of edema, back pain, sleep disturbances, and other ailments that may result from long periods of bed rest.
The Better Beds have a built-in alarm system that can be programmed to alert the attendant if a resident is laying down and turns, sits up or stands up.
Staff would set the alert based on the individual needs of the resident.
This alarm system has been a real tool in helping to bring the number of accidental falls down to the lowest levels in our care community.
Our Families & Staff Say …
The Deotto Family
Everyone should give what they are able to anafford so all the residents of VLG can have new electric beds.”
Anonymous, Family Member
We need more of these Better Beds so all the residents can have one.”
Rosanna Farrel, PSW
This second phase to ensure everyone gets a Better Bed just goes to show how much they care. In my opinion, these beds are a great investment and should be every donor’s top priority.”
P. Vecchiarelli, Donor
Lori Francescutti, Family Member