Baltic Bed

I have had a Baltic turning system bed for about twelve years now. This is something that was bought for me by Social Services. Good old National Health Service.

There is a handset for the bed which moves in many different positions (head raised, legs raised, bed tilted so the feet are up, bed tilted so the head is up, left turn, right turn and flat). There is also an automatic button, so the bed can move by itself regularly throughout the night turning me from side to side. This is very good for pressure areas and let's face it, turning is what someone without MS would do. The bed can also be raised and lowered, so the carer can put it at the required height and preserve their back (VERY important).

The automatic button can be set to move the bed every half hour, one hour, two hours or four hours. The 'head raised' and 'legs raised' functions cannot be used when the bed is on automatic, however the bed can be tilted (this means my feet can be raised in summer which is good for swollen ankles.)

Since I spend about 12hrs in bed every day, it is vital that I remain in a good position. My Occupational Therapist (NHS) ordered the bed and a pressure relieving mattress twelve years ago and has replaced the batteries and the mattress once since then. (I'm probably due some more changes but that's another matter).

An engineer should check the bed and battery yearly. The battery is important in case there's a power cut.

Sarah

1. Head up

2. Knees & feet up

3. Trendelenburg - whole bed tilted with feet up - head down

4. Whole bed tilted with head up - feet down

5. Bed tilted sideways - looking to the right

5. Bed tilted sideways - looking to the left