In some cases, one should actually take a hospital like bed with mattress and side railings. While there are various types of beds suited for various budgets such as electronic ICU beds; 3 function or 5 function beds etc. However, a simple fowler/semi fowler bed with a foam mattress along with side railings is usually enough. Advantages of doing so are:

• Propping up the patient while feeding them helps in food moving down and can reduce reflux
• Alternate positions (discussion on alternate positions coming soon) which dependent patients need to be kept in to reduce bed sore development are easier to achieve
• Reduces chances of cross infection since the patient is kept in a separate bed
• Reduces effort and risk of injury required from caregivers to support a patient especially if patient is overweight