A bed is one of the most used pieces of equipment in any aged care facility.
Cubro's aged care range has been a staple in facilities across New Zealand for years, dependable, well-built, and ready to deliver from stock when your facility needs them.
But a bed isn't just furniture. It's where residents spend a substantial portion of their time, where some of their highest-risk moments occur, and where the physical demands on care teams are greatest. Knowing what makes a bed genuinely right for your residents and your environment is worth understanding.
The link between bed height, falls, and independence
We are familiar with the statistic that falls are among the most serious risks for aged care residents. Around 30% of people aged 65 and over living in the community fall at least once a year, and between 10% and 20% of those falls require hospitalisation. For residents over 85, the risk of a hip fracture is 15 times higher than it is for a 65-year-old.[2]
Ultra-low beds reduce the consequences of a fall by minimising the distance a resident can fall. They also help residents who retain some mobility to reach the floor safely and independently, supporting dignity and reducing unnecessary interventions.
The compatibility gap that puts transfers at risk
Bed and hoist incompatibility is a documented clinical risk. When a mobile hoist can't pass freely under a bed, care teams are forced to improvise, adding manual handling steps that weren't planned for and weren't risk assessed. Those steps are where injuries happen, to both carers and residents.
The ACC guidelines are specific: 150mm minimum under-bed clearance is required for mobile hoist access.[1] A bed that falls short of this creates a hazard on every single transfer.
Four-section profiling: comfort and care in one bed
A four-section profiling bed adjusts the head, backrest, knee break, and overall height independently. For residents who spend significant time in bed, that range of positioning matters clinically. The right angle and posture can support respiratory function, reduce pressure injury risk, help manage oedema, and make personal care safer for the care team without manual lifting.
The bock® Practico ultra-low slimline bed and bock® Belluno slimline bed are both four-section profiling beds that give care teams that full range of capability.
Finding the right fit for your facility
levels across your facility, how many residents require hoist-assisted transfers, whether there are bariatric needs, and what proportion of residents spend most of their time in bed. The current Cubro range covers the full spectrum:
All are held in stock and ready to deliver, so you're not waiting on lengthy lead times when a resident's need is urgent.
Talk to us. We'll help you get it sorted.
Our team works alongside aged care facilities to review bed fleets against resident profiles, check hoist compatibility with existing equipment, and help you find the right solutions. There's no pressure, just a practical conversation about what works best for your facility and the people in it.
Get in touch with your local Cubro account manager or contact us.
References
[1] ACC New Zealand Patient Handling Guidelines, Section 9, Facility Design and Upgrading