What to Avoid When Buying a Used Patient Bed: A Dealer’s Insider Tips

Buying a Used Patient Bed for Home Care Whether you’re spending limited time at home recovering from surgery or illness or making room for hospice care, purchasing used medical equipment can be an economical choice. On the other hand, not all secondhand medical beds are created equally in terms of safety, sturdiness, and performance. As a dealer who has examined and reconditioned hundreds of beds over the years, I’ve identified similar missteps that buyers unwittingly take—that invariably end up costing them more in the long run.

Here’s what to steer clear of before you take the plunge and bring home a safe, dependable bed for your loved one.

1: Disregarding Safety Certifications and the Reputation of the Brand

Not all secondhand medical beds are meant for long-term patient use. Some might even fall short of safety standards.

Avoid:

• No factory marking or model number
• Non-hospital-grade brand beds
• Sellers are unable to verify the original safety. Sellers are unable to verify the original safety complaint for the IndexPath bed.

Tip: Look for a brand like Invacare, Joerns, Hillrom, Stryker, or Drive Medical, and you’ll know they will be reliable.

2️⃣ Ignoring Inspection of the Bed’s Motor and Electrical System

Electric beds are heavily reliant on motors and wiring, and if these things break, repairing them can be expensive.

Avoid:

• Beds that “clunk”; beds that hesitate when doing a motorized action or become stuck while moving up/down
• Exposed, cracked, or taped-up wires
• Out-of-state sellers may even display the bed fully assembled.

Test Before Buying:

• Head and foot adjustment
• Overall height movement
• Hand control responsiveness

If the motors sound like they’re straining, move the algorithms to the side.

3️⃣ Ignoring Mattress Condition and Compatibility Amid the excitement of upgrading to a plush new bed, it’s easy to forget about mattress condition and compatibility.

Most buyers assume there is a mattress included and that the mattress will be suitable as if it were a real bed—a tendency that’s not always true.

Avoid:

• Mattresses that have stains, tears, or sags
• Smelly foam—has been wet at some point
• Incompatible mattress size or thickness

Pro Tip: For patients with minimal mobility or at increased risk of bedsores, consider investing in a pressure-relief mattress separately.

4️⃣ Not Listing Side Rails When Looking for Entrapping Hazards

Many people have stated that the side rails are a major contributing factor as to whether or not this bed design is safe, and they must be sturdy and free from any sign of breakage.

Avoid:

• Laddered, wobbly, or missing rails
• Large spaces where an arm, leg, or head can be entrapped.
• Non-OEM bed model—mismatched aftermarket rails

Ask the dealer to demonstrate locking and release.

5️⃣ Not Budgeting for Delivery, Setup, and Warranty

An individual seller’s offer to sell can cost you less but could also leave you high and dry if things go south.

Avoid:

• No delivery or installation support
• There is no service guarantee or short-term warranty.
• No return or exchange policy

Clearly, there is one certified dealer that offers after-sales support and ensures the availability of spare parts.

Final Takeaway

Secondhand medical beds can be an especially excellent value when they have been acquired properly. But when safety and comfort are on the line, that corner-cutting can pose serious risks. Refer to these dealer-proven tips and prioritize functionality, cleanliness, brand reliability, and after-sales service instead of focusing solely on the price tag.