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If you’re looking for information on how to choose the best bed rails for elderly seniors, you’re just on the right page. The market abounds with bed rails of several different types and brands, and making the right choice can be challenging for seniors and their caregivers. Read on to understand what to look for when buying a bed rail for an elderly senior. But…what exactly is a bed rail? A bed rail, less commonly called a bed handle, is an attachable and removable extension installed along the side of a bed to reduce the risk of falling from the bed (especially during the night), provide assistance when repositioning oneself in bed, and ease climbing on and getting down from the bed. Bed rails usually come in various styles, shapes, and sizes and are typically made of steel, aluminum, tough plastic, or other strong materials. Because beds are of different styles, a bed rail usually features attachments that make it suitable for a wide range of bed types. Some bed rails are long enough to run along the whole length of the side of the bed, while others span half, a quarter, or even shorter fractions of it. And some are of adjustable lengths. Why are bed rails necessary for elderly seniors? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of elderly people in the United States fall every year. And most of these falls result in a wide range of health complications, some of which result in deaths. This explains why it’s important to take all precautions necessary to prevent falls in the elderly (seniors). Since a significant fraction of falls among elderly seniors happen from beds, it’s important to prevent nighttime falls from beds. And installing bed rails is the best way to ensure this because bed rails help to create a supportive and assistive sleeping environment for seniors and elderly people. Best bed rails for elderly seniors: What to look for before buying Whether you’re an elderly senior or caregiver looking to buy a bed rail, there are certain features you need to look for before making your choice. And are some important ones. Length: Your choice of length depends on the user’s likelihood of slipping out of bed. For users who move a lot during their sleep, a bed rail that spans at least half of the length of the bed is ideal.Adjustability: Bed rails with adjustable length are better than those with fixed length because user needs might vary over time.Strength: Because bed rails are meant to offer support, it goes without saying that they should be made with strong materials. Bed rails made of durable steel, aluminum, tough plastic or other hard materials are preferable. You sure don’t want to replace a broken bed rail anytime soon.Ease of installation: While some bed rails are very easy to install without any tools or previous experience, some are so complicated that they require some tools or expert knowledge to install them. Of course, you don’t want spend extra to hire someone to help you with the installation. A bed rail that is easy to install and detach is always better.Reversible design: Your ideal bed rail is one with a reversible design that makes it suitable for either side of the bed, not one that is designed for just one side.Weight capacity: Each bed rail has a maximum weight it can support. While most can support weights of up to 300 pounds, you might need more resilient ones if the user is overweight or obese. Best bed rails for elderly seniors (review) As stated earlier, making the right choice of bed rail can be a head-scratching experience due to the overwhelming number of options available in the market. However, we conducted a comparative research on several types and brands of bed rails available in online marketplaces. We intended to figure the best bed rails based on buyer opinions, brand trust, manufacturer support, and the important features discussed above. And our goal was to help you make the right choice without spending much time and energy. Based on our findings, here are the three best bed rails available in the American market at the moment. 1. Stander EZ Adjust & Pivoting Adult Home Bed Rail The Stander EZ Adjust & Pivoting Adult Home Bed Rail is a durable bed rail that can also double as a bed handle. It’s length that can easily be adjusted from 26 inches through 34 inches to 42 inches, depending on the preferred length. So, while the user is in bed and ready to sleep, the length can be increased to ensure maximum fall protection. And after the user wakes up, the length can be reduced to avoid impedance to getting in and out of bed. The rail supports up to 300 pounds of user weight. Made of neat-looking polished steel, the Stander EZ Adjust & Pivoting Adult Home Bed Rail is sturdy, strong, and innovatively designed. It can be placed on either side of the bed and can be attached to most traditional and hospital beds — including brands like Tempurpedic, Leggett and Platt, Ergomotion, Serta Pranasleep, Sleepnumber, and others. It works well with platform beds, too. However, installation procedures may vary slightly from one type of bed to another. Aside the adjustable length, the Stander EZ Adjust & Pivoting Adult Home Bed Rail also comes with a 180-degree pivot feature. So, when the rail is not in use, you can flip if down by 180 degrees to keep it completely out of the user’s way until it’s needed again. And more interestingly, it comes with an organizer pouch that can conveniently hold the small items you like to keep close to you while in bed, such as your remote control, smartphone charger, and so on. Installation is quite easy, but you might need an extra tool — a wrench. Fortunately, that has been included in the product pack, so you don’t have to buy one. It also comes with a safety strap. What we like Adjustable length (26″ through 34″ to 42″)Can be pivoted down by 180 degrees when not in useSupports up to 300 pounds user weightEasy installationSuitable for either side of the bedCompatible with most traditional and hospital bedsComes with safety strap and organizer pouchBestselling bed rail on Amazon.com What we dislike Not suitable for users weighing over 300 poundsInstallation might be not-so-straightforward for few bed types 2. Stander Bed Rail Advantage Folding Travel Bed Rail The Stander Bed Rail Advantage Bed Rail is a much simpler but stronger bed rail and handle. It comes with the portability and foldability advantages, which make it perfect for travel. Although it lacks the length adjustability feature, it can support weights of up to 400 pounds, which makes it a perfect option for overweight users. Although the manufacturer holds that the Stander Bed Rail Advantage Bed Rail is compatible with most traditional and hospital beds, we found that it’s more suited for beds with box spring and isn’t really great for platform beds. Also, it doesn’t work with sponge type mattresses. Installing the Stander Bed Rail Advantage Bed Rail is very easy, and no tools are required. The rail comes with a 4-pocket organizer pouch for storing small items by the bedside. And for ergonomics, it features a cushion grip handle that the user can hold on to while getting in and out of bed. Unlike our top pick, the Stander Bed Rail Advantage Bed Rail cannot be flipped down out of the user’s way, but it can be more easily detached. And as with others on this list, it comes with a safety strap that provides extra security. What we like Lightweight and portableEasy to fold for travelVery strong — can support up to 400 pounds of user weightComes with safety strap and organizer pouchCan be easily installed without toolsSuitable for either side of the bedRelative cheap What we dislike Length cannot be adjustedWorks best with bed with box springDoesn’t work with sponge type mattresses 3. Stander 30″ Home Safety Adult Bed Rail The Stander 30″ Home Safety Adult Bed Rail is another great option for those looking for a good bed rail for elderly seniors. Stylishly designed, the rail is suitable for either side of the bed and is compatible with various bed types and styles. It’s made with power-coated steel, so there are no doubts over its strength. Just like our top pick, the Stander 30″ Home Safety Adult Bed Rail also pivots down by 180 degrees, and this feature can get the rail completely out of the user’s way when the rail isn’t needed. However, unlike our top pick, this bed rail doesn’t come with the adjustable length feature. Installing the Stander 30″ Home Safety Adult Bed Rail is quite easy, but you might need the already included wrench for some types of beds. The bed rail also comes with a safety strap and an organizer pouch to hold your magazines, remote control and other small items. What we like Exceptional strengthCan flipped down by 180 degreesPadded organizer pouchEasy to installSuitable for either side of the bedCompatible with most beds What we dislike Lacks adjustable height featureNot suitable for overweight users