Assistive items are always very imperative for adults who aren’t as fully active as they used to be. Walking needs a cane as support, bathing needs a bath seat, and sleeping needs bed handles. Elderly ones, especially those with one medical condition or the other, need bed handles to ensure security while sleeping and while getting in and out of bed.

Incidents of rolling off the bed can be totally avoided with the use of bed handles or bed rails. And while safety is the main aim, comfort is also an important factor to consider when purchasing bed handles.

Let’s get started on the best bed handles for seniors.

OUR TOP PICK

No products found.

Stander EZ Adjust & Pivoting Adult Home Bed Rail

EDITORS CHOICE

No products found.

Stander Bed Rail Advantage Folding Travel Bed Rail

BEST VALUE

No products found.

Stander 30″ Home Safety Adult Bed Rail

What are bed handles/rails?

A bed handle is an important piece of equipment attached to the side of the bed to ensure the user stays in bed. It acts as a stopper, cancelling out the chance of any chance of the elderly falling off the bed. It also acts as a support for getting in and out of bed.

Some bed handles come with pocket organizers, allowing the user to store vital bed side items. Bed handles are made mostly from aluminum or steel materials and can reflect the surrounding temperature. Hence, most bed handles come padded for extra comfort.

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 do elderly people need bed handles or rails?

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.

Safety is the essence of bed handles and that is the most important reason why the elderly need bed handles. Those with medical conditions like Alzheimer’s syndrome, dementia, arthritis, osteoporosis, and so on also need bed handles for the much needed safety and support when going in and out of bed.

While they may look simple, bed handles are far more important than you can imagine.

What to look for when buying bed handles or rails for seniors

Bed handles can be a bit hard to understand, and you don’t want to go ahead to buy one without having some basic knowledge of what to look out for. Here are some of the factors you should consider when looking to buy a good bed handle for seniors.

• Sturdiness: While all bed handles are fragile looking materials, the recommended ones are usually strong and can support heavy weights. The sturdiness of bed handles are not the same, so you need to purchase a sturdy one, especially if the intended user is overweight or obese.
• Fitting pattern: While seniors ones prefer a bed handle that has its strap/support spanning the whole length of the bed, it would also be uncomfortable if the support gives the bed a bulge. While sturdiness is important, comfort is also a very factor to consider too.
• Ease of assembly: The more complicated coupling a bed handle is, the higher the likelihood of coupling it wrongly. As a matter of fact, most bed handles aren’t the hardest things to couple. But then there are some hard-to-assemble ones that you should avoid.
• Material: The material used to produce bed handles is also an important factor to consider, as it helps to predict the durability of the product and how well it will provide user security. Steel (preferably powder coated steel) is always the best option, when searching for the best bed handles.
• 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.
• 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 Handles for seniors (review)

To save you from the head-scratching experience of finding the best bed handle from the several options available in the market. We have scoured the market and have narrowed down the several options down to the few that we deem the best — based on real buyer opinions, product features, brand trust, and other important factors.

And here are our top picks.

OUR TOP PICK

Stander EZ Adjust & Pivoting Adult Home Bed Rail

No products found.

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 use
• Supports up to 300 pounds user weight
• Easy installation
• Suitable for either side of the bed
• Compatible with most traditional and hospital beds
• Comes with safety strap and organizer pouch
• Bestselling bed rail on Amazon.com

What we dislike

• Not suitable for users weighing over 300 pounds
• Installation might be not-so-straightforward for few bed types

EDITORS CHOICE

Stander Bed Rail Advantage Folding Travel Bed Rail

No products found.

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 portable
• Easy to fold for travel
• Very strong — can support up to 400 pounds of user weight
• Comes with safety strap and organizer pouch
• Can be easily installed without tools
• Suitable for either side of the bed
• Relative cheap

What we dislike

• Length cannot be adjusted
• Works best with bed with box spring
• Doesn’t work with sponge type mattresses

BEST VALUE

Stander 30″ Home Safety Adult Bed Rail

No products found.

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 strength
• Can flipped down by 180 degrees
• Padded organizer pouch
• Easy to install
• Suitable for either side of the bed
• Compatible with most beds

What we dislike

• Lacks adjustable height feature
• Not suitable for overweight users

RUNNER UP

Drive Medical Home Bed Assist Rail

No products found.

The Drive Medical Home Bed Assist Rail takes the assurance of safety to the top level. It features a safety strap and a tool-free assembly. The strap is long to fit almost any type of bed and it’s also one of the most affordable bed handles in the market.

Rail dimensions: 21.5″(D) x 11.5″(W) x 20.75″(H).

What we like

• Very easy to assemble and disassemble.
• Really light weight at just 2 pounds.
• Long strap for any bed type.
• Sturdy build for almost any user weight.
• Very easy to maintain.
• Easy to assemble.

What we dislike

• Strap and handle isn’t adjustable.
• Some users complained that it took some getting used to.

RUNNER UP

Drive Medical Adjustable Height Home Bed Assist Handle

No products found.

The Drive Medical Adjustable Height Home Bed Assist Handle is one of the most purchased bed handles in the market. For good reason, it poses serious competition to other bed handles, thanks to its sturdy structure and adjustable handle.

The Drive Medical Adjustable Height Home Bed Assist Handle features long bed straps and padded adjustable handles. It’s also a very affordable piece of secure and comfortable item.

Rail dimensions: 32.75″(D) x 19.75″(W) x 13.5-16.5″ (H).

What we like

• Very easy to assemble and disassemble.
• Light weight at just 8.1 pounds.
• Adjustable strap and bed handle.
• Sturdy build and very easy to maintain.
• Foldable for easy storage.
• Anti-slip foam to increase sturdiness.
• Maximum weight capacity of 250lbs.

What we dislike

• Some users complained that even after adjustments, the rail is still too long.
• Depending on the type of bed, the padding can give the bed a slight bulge.

RUNNER UP

Able Life Bedside Mighty Home Bed Rail

No products found.

The Able Life Bedside Mighty Home Bed Rail is a very thoughtfully designed lightweight travel bed rail which suits both home and travel needs. It is made with sturdy aluminum material and the strap is adjustable to fit almost any bed type.

Also, it comes with a side pocket organizer to hold items that you might need while on the bed. What’s more? It’s one of the most affordable bed rails you can lay hands on.

What we like

• No tool required to assemble and disassemble.
• Very light weight at just 1.5 pounds.
• Adjustable strap.
• Easy to maintain aluminum material.
• Foldable for easy storage.
• Pocket organizers for bedside items.
• Maximum weight capacity of 300lbs.

What we dislike

• Some users complained about the curve handle, saying they’ll rather have it flat.
• The aluminum material temperature changes with room temperature.

RUNNER UP

Stander BedCane Home Bed Assist & Support Handle

No products found.

When the strongest bed rails are called into question, the Stander BedCane Home Bed Assist & Support Handle would definitely be leading the pack. It comes with a solid sturdy powder coated steel cane and a flat wooden strap and an expandable strap support to fit any kind of bed. The height is adjustable and it comes with 4 pocket organizers.

What we like

• Easy to assemble and store.
• Very light weight at just 3.5 Ounces.
• Adjustable strap and steel cane (height).
• Easy to maintain aluminum material.
• Foldable for easy storage.
• Padded handle for extra comfort.
• 4 Pocket organizers for easy access to items.
• Maximum weight capacity of 300 pounds.

What we dislike

• Some users complained that the bamboo board bulges the bed.

Anything We Missed?

We’d love to hear from you.

Did we miss any points on medical bed rails for seniors?

Or maybe you have a question about something.

Either way, let us know by leaving a comment below right now.

Last update on 2023-12-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API