October 2023
RE: The Freedom Bed
"In April 2016, our son was injured in a training accident while serving with the US Army National Guard. He broke his neck and suffered a spinal cord injury which left him a quadriplegic with a C4 complete injury. He had turned 21 just 3 1/2 weeks before his accident and our world turned upside down.
For 6 years we had a hospital bed in our home for him. This required us to turn him every few hours through the night to prevent pressure sores. This was tiring and anyone who has had a new baby in the house remembers how tired you were the first few months when you were up and down during the night. Our son tended to wake up as well when we turned him so he wasn't getting a restful sleep either.
In 2022, our doctor told us about The Freedom Bed. We were fortunate enough to get one and it made all the difference for us as well as our son. We set it at night, go to bed, and let The Freedom Bed do the work of turning our son. We were more rested which helped us be better caregivers to our son and the best part, our son was able to sleep peacefully through the night as the bed turned him smoothly and quietly.
It is our feeling that every person who is susceptible to pressure sores, and are unable to move to prevent them on their own, would benefit greatly from The Freedom Bed. Caregivers are better rested to provide better care. Patients are more rested. It's a beneficial tool in the prevention of pressure sores. Last, but not least, the savings of having The Freedom Bed compared to the cost of hospitalization to treat a pressure sore is substantial.
The Freedom Bed has been one of the best pieces of equipment that we have gotten to care for our son and we hope every person that would benefit from this bed would be able to get one. It's life changing."
Allan & Isolde Olmsted
York, NE
March 2021
“Following a massive stroke, my mother used the Freedom Bed by ProBed for 14 months before passing away from cardiac issues. She was largely bed bound during this time and the Freedom Bed worked flawlessly. While using the bed she suffered no bed or pressure sores. In fact, the only issue we had in this regard was when she was in the hospital, away from her Freedom Bed. The company is very hands-on, starting with a comprehensive, in-person instructions, and her caregivers had no problems learning how to use and operate the bed. Likewise my mother had no issues adjusting to the slow movement of the bed while she slept. The product is really only surpassed by the excellent customer service. ProBed was there for any questions, any time of the day, even in the middle of the night. Two thumbs up, or five stars as they say. The product really helped our family during a difficult period.”
Steve York
November 2019
“My son has been bedridden and paralyzed for more than 20 years. During this time I have invested in various beds and appliances to reduce his risks of infections and pressure sores.
For nearly a year now he is being nursed on a Freedom Bed, manufactured by ProBed Medical Technologies, and what a HUGE difference this bed has made to our lives. His repositioning turns are now automatic with no lifting or handling by the care givers and, more importantly, no disturbance to my son. His pressure sores which would not heal with all previous efforts are no longer present.
I could go on and on about the benefits of this bed but I will end this testimony by stating that the purchase of his Freedom Bed was the best investment I ever made.”
C.W. London UK 2019
August 21, 2017
Hello Mike:
Thank you for following up with us regarding the bed noise. Karin and I are happy to report the issue is resolved! I purchased a can of Fluid Film, followed the instructions you provided for lubricating the bed and, shortly thereafter, the noise completely stopped. The bed now sounds like new again. Thank you so much!
Karin and I want to express our appreciation for the exceptional customer service given to us by Tony DaCosta.
When Karin and I were first researching therapy beds, I contacted ProBed, and received a prompt personal response from your representative, Tony DaCosta. He was very informative, and patiently answered all our questions regarding the function and features of the Freedom Bed, as well as the process for submitting a claim for the purchase/rental of the bed to our insurance company. Tony clearly has a passion for his work, and a very broad and deep knowledge of the ProBed product. He has a great sense of humor, and immediately put Karin and I at ease during what could have been a difficult time in dealing with the insurance company. Tony provided us with all the tools we needed to submit a request to our insurance company for the successful purchase of the bed.
Within a very reasonable time frame, Tony arranged delivery of the bed to our home. He personally delivered the bed, unpacked it, and set it up in our bedroom. For the next several days, he came to our home and spent many hours training Karin's caregivers and me in the use and function of the bed. Tony always had a smile, and was very patient while training the caregivers, some of whom had never experienced a therapy bed before.
When Karin realized that her Freedom Bed was a bit higher off the floor than her previous bed, Tony offered, and assisted me, in re-mounting our wall-mounted television a bit higher, so that Karin could see it. Tony is the poster child of customer service! He made sure Karin and I were completely satisfied with the bed before he departed. He has since made follow-up contacts with us to make sure everything was fine with the bed.
Karin had suffered from a pressure ulcer for several years prior to receiving her Freedom Bed. With a traditional bed, she was unable to relieve the pressure so that the wound could heal. With the Freedom Bed, the wound finally healed! Karin and I could not be happier with her Freedom Bed and know that it will give her many years of comfort and reliability. The bed is made of the highest quality materials and, as far as therapy beds go, it looks good! Karin's health has improved dramatically with the use of her Freedom Bed and she is much more comfortable in it compared to a traditional bed. All her caregivers and medical care providers comment on how nice the bed is, and how it makes their jobs so much easier.
Karin and I could not be more impressed and happy with the customer service provided by Tony and the entire ProBed team! We highly recommend the Freedom Bed to anyone who needs a therapy bed.
Sincerely,
Karin Vierra and Don Garrett
February 16, 2017
I don't have the words to describe all the benefits of my new rotation bed and how pleased I am with the customer service! First is the thoughtful engineering -- not only the does my bed have the highest quality construction, but the functionality is well designed for people with limited mobility. The positioning, rotation, and overall design meet all my needs for keeping me as healthy as possible.
Second, is the sincerity of the people whom I've encountered. Both Tony and Steve genuinely care and do whatever it takes to make sure I am happy, healthy, and safe in my new bed. They respond promptly to my questions and go WAY above and beyond in customer service during every step of the process.
Third, I now wake up fully rested and can feel the improvement in circulation and distribution of pressure points.
And finally, my husband gets a full night's sleep and we are both grateful for that! Please give this company and bed serious consideration. You will not be disappointed
Shelly Austin Hoover
January 14, 2017
My son, Ryan had the first generation and now has the newer model. I honestly don't know what we would do without this bed as it has greatly improved his quality of life (and ours). Not only is he extremely more comfortable than a traditional bed and has the autonomy to be able to turn himself but when he is sick (respiratory), we can elevate his head as well as the bed to get him in a much better position (instead of trying to prop on pillows and falling off). We love the multiple positioning capabilities to ensure his comfort and a good nights sleep.
The frequent turning helps keep his lungs clear, relieves pressure-thus keeping his skin healthy and intact, helps ease generalized pain and discomfort and is very crucial for his overall health and well-being.
Instead of having to get up and reposition him every 1/2-1 hour throughout the night as we had to do with a traditional bed, he is able to turn himself with a switch plate so we all get more rest at night! Woohoo!
Since Ryan has been using these beds (as well as his chest PT Vest), his history of pneumonia has all but disappeared! Now if we could just take it with us when we travel...
Tracy Cole Jones
Dear Steve and Tony,
It’s been over four years now since you and your team installed my first Freedom Bed. It is difficult to put into words how much the bed has changed our lives. Some years ago, I was in an airplane accident and broke my C-3,4 and 5 vertebrae. For the first two years my wife would wake up and turn me, once or twice, every night using our Hill-Rom Care Assist bed. This routine was very stressful on both of us. We never felt like we got a full night of sleep, and then we would struggle through the rest of our days at work and raising our then three year-old son.
Then we learned about the Freedom Bed after researching the internet for a better alternative. After much analysis we decided to purchase a voice-activated Freedom Bed using money raised from our Help\HopeLive.org fundraiser. Steve and Tony coordinated getting the bed to Alaska and installing everything so that it would work with our TV, stereo, DVD player, Apple TV and other electronics in the house. They stayed at a local hotel and worked with us for three ore four days making sure that everything worked correctly.
Even though I am a quadriplegic, I am also a self-employed CPA and former commercial pilot, so I am what you would categorize as a perfectionist when it comes to knowing about how things work and making sure they work as advertised. My wife is also a registered nurse and, in her many years of patient care, has never seen a more advanced piece of medical equipment. After having lived with the bed for two years we couldn’t imagine life without it. I often feel as if I have more independence when I am in the bed than in my power chair.
We had attended Craig Hospital for rehabilitation and they stressed to us the importance of using a quality mattress to prevent bed sores. With the use of extra padding for my knees, ankles, arms and booties on my feet, I remain pressure sore free. I have even fallen asleep and forgotten to put the bed in rotate mode a couple of different times, but have still not gotten any pressure sores after laying flat on the mattress for too many hours. The Freedom Bed mattress is also much cooler than the air-filled mattress that I used in the hospital. Overall, we are very pleased with the bed and mattress quality.
It is unfortunate that more people and institutions have not adopted this bed technology, but everything takes time.
It is very difficult to put into words how much the Freedom Bed has changed our lives. The bed is extremely well engineered and I remember commenting to Steve about how simple, yet sophisticated the bed really is. It is not so easy to engineer something that will do so many things (up, down, rotate, Trendelenburg, head up, legs up, etc.) yet keep the moving parts so streamlined and elegant looking. After having lived with the beds (we now have two Freedom Beds) for over four years we couldn’t imagine living without them.
Wes & Jocelyn Price,
Anchorage, Alaska.
Dear Steve,
I have to write to you in order to express my absolute satisfaction with the Freedom bed that I bought from Pro-Bed. I've had the bed since June of 2010 and it has exceeded my wildest dreams.
I first discovered the bed after one final dis-satisfaction that I experienced. My wife has been a quadriplegic since an automobile accident in August 1999. One of the first things that I discovered after she came home was that the typical health care provider is not very interested in providing a quality product with quality customer service. I've seen this in the wheelchairs that I've purchased for her and the beds that she has used. I found myself becoming the service technician for all of her products. On more than one occasion I've had to call a manufacturer to try and get a replacement part and in most cases I was refused. As such I became quite adept at improvising in order to effect the needed repairs. One morning, I woke up to discover that our power had gone out during the night and as a result my wife's air mattress deflated and she ended up sleeping on the bed's steel frame. That same day I performed an internet search and came across your web site. Within a day or two I was in contact with Brian Bailey, received my quote and placed my order.
When Brian delivered the bed he set it up, demonstrated its features, provided us with full instructions and stayed for two days until he was satisfied that we understood everything about its operations. This initial setup included the optional equipment that provides my wife the capability to operate the bed and our TV with voice commands.
My wife usually protests whenever I buy her any special equipment as she doesn't like change however I truly believe that anyone who would attempt to take away her bed would be placing their life in danger. This bed has been everything that we hoped for.
When she catches a cold it frequently developed into pneumonia as she doesn't have the lung capacity to clear her lungs by coughing. Now she places herself in the "trend" position and avoids the problem. During the night the only sound I hear is if she uses the voice controller to override the turning schedule that I programmed in and instructs the bed to move to the next position.
Beyond the importance of the expected bed operations, I've been extremely impressed by your customer support. In my house everything gets broken. If it doesn't break simply due to constant use and expected wear and tear, it breaks due to careless handling. I expect that and am prepared for it. As a rule I try to buy extra and duplicate parts so that I may be prepared when the worst happens. On the few occasions that I had to call for assistance in diagnosing or repairing a problem, I received a call back within a very short time frame. I've even received calls back on Sunday and a holiday. You or someone from your team have always been there for me and have instructed me in diagnosing a problem or replacing a part. I have never been left hanging. To me that is the defining distinction. There aren't words that I can use to describe my satisfaction with the bed and your company.
I can confidently make the claim that anyone who purchases your bed will never regret it. I am very willing to allow you to use this letter as proof of my satisfaction and am more than willing to publicize my experience with your company. Any time a caregiver buys a new product there is always a fear in the back of their mind that they may not be spending their money wisely. My experience is that spending the money on a Freedom Bed from Pro-Bed is the wisest decision a disabled person and their caregivers can make.
Regards,
Norman Ross
August 2015
"Our son has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and was unable to roll himself in bed at night; so he'd usually call for help 8 - 10 times to get help
turning so as to get comfortable. As you can imagine, this constant
disruption was very hard on everyone's sleep patterns, and no-one ever woke up refreshed and ready to face the day. We heard about the Freedom Bed and immediately ordered a trial run, hoping it could solve the problem that was consuming a third of our lives. We were so impressed with the results, we placed our order just a week later.
*These days the night time calls for help are less than half what they used
to be; but best of all is that the amount of physical effort to get Tristan
"just right" for a comfortable sleep has been cut by 95%, due to the bed's
very thorough movements. We can honestly say that the Freedom Bed has made all the difference in the quality of all our lives, and can't even imagine
living without it any longer. We highly recommend this bed to anyone who is struggling with the same problems we had to get a good night’s sleep – being the individual using the bed, or those who help them"
David, Paula and Tristan Knapp-Fisher
Victoria, BC,
Canada.
As far as the Freedom Bed is concerned we are very pleased with it. Tim enjoys being able to be on his sides rather than on his back, and does not get the sore joints that he got before he started using this bed. I like it because I am getting at least 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night, as I do not have to turn him every 2 hours with the bed doing it. This is no small thing as I have had neck surgery for a ruptured disc in my neck, sustained while turning a patient at work.
Also Tim has noticed that his body temperature is more stable as the side that is down tends to get hot, but cools off, after the rotation, when it is the up side of the body. The swelling in his feet and legs is minimal with better colour.
Tim’s heels are completely off the mattress with the bolster, and I am not as worried about DVT because his legs are being moved every 20 minutes when he is turned. It seems that he does not wake in the night to void like he used to, but if he does I like that I can use the Freedom Bed to tilt him on his side so that I can hold the bottle for him to use. In a regular hospital bed it is very difficult to have someone one their side while their head is elevated, but the mechanism and the way the bed moves allows him to have both his head elevated, legs up and be on his side.
He has told me that with other products such as alternating air mattresses, by the time he has to be turned 2 hours later he is quite uncomfortable, and he finds the turning process by people quite painful at times. This is because only one part of the body can be turned at a time causing his spine to be twisted which is extremely painful. Also in a regular hospital bed, when I turn him I have to lay the bed flat which makes breathing difficult and switch the pillows to the other side, pull him over one section at a time and then raise the head of the bed. Then I find that the pillows slip out while I raise the head or feet.
All this takes a big toll on my body, as he is 225 lbs. and very tall. To care for him, I have taken a leave from work which means we have lost $5,000.00 net a month income. We are living off of his pension and, without the Freedom Bed, I would have to hire an RN for 8 hours a day at least, to help with turns, which would be $45.00 an hour, amounting to $10,800 a month, and that is if I could find one that would work with his ventilator, and bi-pap machines. That would mean a significant financial hardship. Having the Freedom Bed precludes the need for that.
We also find the Freedom Bed’s voice command system very helpful as he is able to make phone calls on his own, or call me when I am in another room if he needs help. It also allows him to have some independence while he is in bed, as he is basically a full quadriplegic and unable to use a controller. This will become increasingly important as he tires and requires more bed time. Tim’s ALS is quite atypical in that he has maintained head and facial control, as well as swallowing and speech.
Another advantage of the Freedom Bed is that with the q20min turning, secretions are not allowed to settle in one place and consolidate, and we know that most ALS patients die of pneumonia, or respiratory failure. Because we are having much success with maintaining his breathing with non-invasive options, we expect that he can continue to enjoy life as long as he does not develop pneumonia. It is well documented by the medical community that changing a person’s position frequently prevents both pneumonia, and blood clots. The Freedom Bed’s patented turning system is recognized for its pulmonary care benefits so I believe that Tim continues to be a prime candidate for this bed.
We are both very impressed with the continuing follow up that ProBed Medical
has given us. It is extremely comforting to know that we are able to reach someone at any time night or day if we have a problem. That has not been the case with any other equipment that we have for Tim, and just shows ProBed’s exceptional quality of service, other providers should take notes.
Sincerely
Paulette & Timothy
Dear ProBed-
Our names are Scott and Angie Erbst, and our 14-year-old son Keegan has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This disease progressively makes his muscles very weak. He had gotten to the point where he was using a power wheelchair full-time, and we were looking for a sleeping solution as he was no longer able to turn himself over in bed at night.
My husband and I both happen to be physical therapists, so we have had a lot of experience with medical equipment available for people needing relief from static pressure while sleeping. We looked at every sort of bed and mattress we could think of but couldn’t find anything that was exactly what we wanted until we came upon the Freedom Bed by ProBed. What a relief to find this product! We called and spoke to Tony DaCosta, the wonderful sales rep for our area, and also spoke to the President of ProBed, Steve Plummer, who was also terrific answering all of our questions.
We decided on the model of Freedom Bed we wanted to order and haven’t looked back since! It was one of the best decisions we made regarding not only our son’s overall health, but ours as well. The bed was delivered promptly as promised, and Tony DaCosta flew in to make sure the bed was installed into our home properly and then inserviced not only us, but additional family members on how the bed works until everyone was comfortable with its operation. He stayed several nights and was at our house each day until everyone who needed to see and learn about the bed had a chance to do so! What service!
This bed has provided immeasurable benefits to our son! Because he is being turned by the bed all night long, he doesn’t get sore spots on pressure areas. Turning regularly also aids in other body functions such as helping to keep his lungs clear and it can also help with digestion. Because of the features on the bed, we can even use it to help our son on the rare occasion he has a stuffy nose, because we can tip the bed so the head of the bed is up to allow his sinuses to drain all while the bed continues to turn him all night long! A wonderful secondary benefit is that my husband and I now get to actually sleep all night instead of running back and forth to his room to reposition him! Keegan absolutely LOVES this bed, and in fact, refuses to sleep in any other bed! We even rented one from a dealer in Florida to be placed in our hotel room on a recent trip to Disney World!
We cannot say enough about how wonderful this product AND company have been for our son and family! We would highly recommend this bed, and faced with the same problem again, we would most definitely purchase the exact same bed from ProBed without a second thought!
Sincerely-
Scott & Angie Erbst
Edmond, Oklahoma
The Freedom Bed from Pro Bed Medical Technologies has totally changed our family’s life for the better.
As the Mother of a son diagnosed with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, I’ve been forced to sit back and watch while this horrible illness deprives him of a normal childhood and redirects the focus of our entire family. This disease is not just something we have to deal with; it’s something we have to manage each and every day of our lives. It’s the management of the disease that defines our quality of life and I learned very quickly that I am my son’s strongest advocate and responsible to fight for what he needs.
For the past 5 years, following the recommendation of his therapists and physicians, Danny has tried to sleep in a variety of electric hospital beds with powered air mattresses that sounded like a small locomotive. On a good night, I would have to get up and reposition him 4 or 5 times. Unfortunately, good nights were few and far between. There were times that the pain and numbing in his arm, legs and back would keep us up the entire night. Danny would sometimes fall asleep in his chair while attending class. Needless to say, our lack of sleep has affected us mentally, physically and emotionally.
I reached my end about 6 months ago and decided to find a bed that would solve our problem with positioning for sleep, skin breakdown and pneumonia. I found the Freedom Bed Lateral Rotation Therapy System by ProBed Medical Technologies on the internet and started working. I was told repeatedly by his physician and therapist that insurance wouldn’t pay for it. However, as all good Physicians should be, he was willing to complete the letter of medical necessity and prescription for me to proceed.
Our insurance company reviewed the materials submitted and approved the purchase of Danny’s Freedom Bed within three months.
Danny has had the Freedom Bed for over a month now, and life is as it should be. Danny sleeps uninterrupted 10-12 hours every night and only wakes up when he needs to go to the bathroom. And the most amazing part is that it happened within 3 days of getting the bed. I’d like you to meet the smartest, bravest and most amazing little boy in in the world, my son Danny in his new Freedom Bed!
I am writing this testimonial to help promote awareness of the Freedom Bed within the Muscular Dystrophy Community. If my son’s story and this letter can help one family get the bed that will change their life; it’s worth it! The Freedom Bed is Heaven Sent! It has drastically changes our lives for the better and allows the whole family to live normally! No wonder it is appropriately named The Freedom Bed.
We recommend this bed to all the children and adults who suffer from Muscular Dystrophy and always pray for a cure!
The Azar Family
Joan R. of Vancouver, Canada, has been a very happy user of her Freedom Bed since 2007.
While she immediately fell in love with her Freedom Bed, the actual decision to make the purchase was only possible after Pearl, her Siamese cat, had thoroughly tested it and approved of its presence in the master bedroom!
“Pearl makes all the important decisions – I just go along with her” said Joan, with a sparkle in her eye.
Since getting her Freedom Bed, Joan has enjoyed a significant improvement in her overall health – the result of getting a good night’s sleep every night, with the frequent programmed repositioning leading to much improved circulation, along with all the benefits of just feeling better.
Joan is a bit of a maverick: She was a police officer at a time when such a position was an unusual one for a woman. Suffering a spinal cord injury on duty and confined to a wheelchair she took early retirement from the force and, shortly thereafter, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, triggered by the injury. In spite of her many complex medical challenges she leads a full life and still lives in her own home.
“My Freedom Bed means that I can continue to live in my own house and enjoy life on my terms” she said.
Prior to getting her Freedom Bed Joan suffered from many of the usual problems of immobility including pulmonary congestion, a problem that disappeared very soon after she got her Freedom Bed. Since that memorable day she has had absolutely no recurrence of her pulmonary problems.
Her favourite “gripe” to ProBed, made with that constant sparkle in her eyes, is that her Freedom Bed costs her ‘nothing but money’! Why is that you might ask? Well, let’s leave the last words to Joan:
“I sleep so much better using my Freedom Bed – I feel much better during the day and my improved circulation, due entirely to frequent repositioning, means my hair, my finger and my toe nails grow much faster and I have to go to the beauty salon TWICE AS OFTEN!!!
Dear Mr. Stott
I want to thank you on behalf of my mother and myself for allowing my mother to have access to this amazing bed. As a physician (now retired), I was not aware of what a specialty medical bed can do. In fact, I believed that the standard hospital bed created comfort and provided for the patient's needs. I was wrong and now believe once the word gets out, professional care givers and administrators will see that the present hospital beds are inadequate to prevent pressure sores in patients who are bed ridden. My mother is alive and functioning better as a result of the dynamic continuous movement of your bed, The Freedom Bed. What makes me say this? There is no better firsthand experience than that of my mother. At 97, she was reduced to living the rest of her days in a fetal position due to pain from a pressure wound and unable to communicate. We could not talk to her and the ultimate sign of the end was her stage four pressure wound which was large enough to put your fist inside (see picture). The nursing staff considered that at her age it could not be reversed. She was placed on the Freedom Bed last fall, 2011. Within two weeks she began talking and was starting to stretch out in the bed (a sign that the pain was reducing). Within a few weeks the ulcer slowly started to heal. She had been receiving wound care at the previous institution but the wound continued to expand and progress. The improvement and healing of this pressure wound is, I believe, attributable to the continuous dynamic movement of this bed.
May 12, 2012 We have seen this reversal to the point of almost complete healing (see picture). My mother is now 98. What can I say other than please get the news out. For anyone who has a loved one, wouldn't they want them to have access to a bed like this? Initially, my visits were associated with the discomfort (to me) of seeing my mother with this malodorous large pressure wound. As the wound continued to heal and diminish, the odour disappeared and her cognitive function improved. No one can appreciate the indignity at the end of one's life when there is no relief from these physical and painful discomforts.
Let me also praise the staff at Extendicare for their dedication and excellent care provided to my mother during her stay there and for allowing my mother to be a candidate for this bed.
Yours sincerely,
A.R. Cochen, M.D.
Dear Pro Bed Company:
It has been almost a year since I got my Freedom Bed. The muscles in my arms and legs are very weak, and I am unable to turn myself in the bed.
The bed rotates in a lateral direction, keeping me from having an attendant do this during the day and night.
The angle of rotation and the frequency of rotation can be programmed according to the needs of the patient.
In spite of its functionality, the Freedom Bed is very attractive and does not look like a hospital bed.
I would recommend the Freedom Bed for any patient.
Sincerely,
James P. Bloom, D.D.S.
Dear Mr. Plummer:
I have been remiss in not writing sooner to express the enormous gratitude of the family of a former Prisoner of War and veteran, George Davis. Without the Pro Bed supplied to my uncle by the Veterans Administration and the long-term support of the committed and compassionate Pro-Bed staff, my uncle’s recovery would have been quite different.
In 2006, my uncle, a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, suffered a swift and life-changing spinal cord injury. The accident occurred on the eve on his 81st birthday. In a moment, an energetic man -- who had just earlier a few years earlier hiked over 550 miles across Europe -- found himself a paraplegic from the chest down.
He endured nine months in a Veterans Administration Hospital in New York and, despite constant and supportive care; he desperately wanted to return to his home two hours north of Manhattan. The only way he could do so was to find a way to be moved in bed every few hours. The VA identified a bed from Pro-Bed that would do so – without assistance – on the schedule he needed.
Upon his arrival home, a representative of the Pro-Bed staff --- Anthony DaCosta – arrived at my uncle’s home to set up the bed, educate the family and assure the best care possible was provided to him. Throughout the near-five years my uncle utilized the Pro-Bed, Tony – despite being situated 3,000 some miles away -- was a constant support and companion whenever we had a question or need. More importantly, throughout the time the Pro-Bed was in use, we encountered neither a physical complaint from my uncle nor a mechanical problem with the bed.
Sadly, the breakdown of his custom wheelchair in early 2011 forced the use of a temporary wheelchair replacement; the long-term use of the ‘loaner’ wheelchair resulted in a skin tear that forced my uncle to return to the VA hospital.
Despite protests from my uncle and his family, in order to return home, the VA deemed it best to replace his Pro-bed with an inflated mattress. My uncle was devastated the he would need to give up his bed and wanted very much for another veteran to be provided the opportunity the VA and Pro-Bed afforded him. Following a few weeks of VA paper processing, we were released to donate the bed as we saw fit; of course, our first resource was Pro-Bed. At that time, Tony DaCosta -- once again --- stepped to the fore to see what he could do to assist. He introduced us to you, Mr. Plummer, and you both swiftly offered an opportunity to honor my uncle’s desire to situate the bed in the care of another veteran. A quick e-mail set into motion a call to another Pro-Bed representative – Brian Bailey-- who gave up his Memorial Holiday weekend to drive from his home in Michigan to pick up the bed and then drive it all the way down to a veteran in Washington, DC (my modest calculations suggest over 2,000 miles roundtrip).
Truly, the actions of the three of you and the obvious values and ethics of the Pro-Bed organization have had a major impact on my uncle and his family. We are eternally grateful and will forever be available to encourage individuals, hospitals, rehabilitation institutions and -- most importantly, the VA who represents the veterans who have cared for us --- to consider your products.
Thank you, Stephen, Tony, Brian and – most certainly – Pro-Bed for what you did for my uncle. Sadly, we lost him a month ago but our memories remain strong and our gratitude to you is life-long.
Sincerely yours,
Edwina A. Marsala
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
My 12 year old son, Michael, has Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Living a quality life with Duchenne requires using an array of durable medical equipment. Michael has AFOs, a power wheelchair, cough assist nebulizer, shower chair and bi-pap. He also has a Freedom Bed from ProBed Medical Technologies. All of his equipment improves the quality of his life and helps keep him healthy, but only the Freedom Bed has changed his life and improved ours as well.
Prior to the bed, we turned Michael many times during the night. It was difficult for him to get comfortable and we were exhausted. We were all sleep deprived to the point that it was affecting our health and our relationships. The Freedom Bed changed all of that.
Michael now sleeps in a comfortable, healthy position and is automatically turned every fifteen minutes all night. His arms are not crushing his chest, limiting his lung capacity which has drastically reduced his pulmonary issues. His initial PFT after first sleeping on the Freedom Bed improved. He wakes relaxed, rested with no pain, stiffness or soreness. All issues we were starting to have with pressure sores went away completely. Michael regularly sleeps ten consecutive hours each night.
We are no longer sleep deprived and are able to live life to the fullest, as is Michael. Of all his equipment, the Freedom Bed is the most important part of his care. He NEEDS this bed to maintain his greatest possible health. All of our boys deserve and need this bed. If you are still turning your son, contact me. I’d love to talk to you about how the Freedom Bed changed our lives.
Susan Schiavo
Hi everyone,
We are the Morgan family from Perth, Western Australia. Our son William has had his Freedom Bed by Pro-Bed since 2006. He was 7 at the time. SMA 2 means that he has no ability to turn himself. The improvement in William’s health and well being as well as the rest of the family cannot be overstated. Instead of a long winded story, we will give you the benefits in point form!
There are many other smaller but important advantages. For example, William worries about how much time and dedication we spend with him as opposed to our other children. The Freedom bed even helps reduce this (in his mind).
Because William is a young boy, we took time to develop cushion bolsters – we even use a “hoop” so that the blankets don’t get caught up during the turns.
So, Stephen Plummer and everyone at Pro-bed, we thank you very much for developing this bed. If anyone wishes to contact us, please don’t hesitate.
Ross & Wendy Morgan.
Perth, Australia
To ProBed:
We are Wilfred and Elaine Gauthier and we purchased a Freedom Bed for our 41-year old son Curt. Curt has Cerebral Palsy, and is quadriplegic.
Until the day that we got our bed, we had to turn Curt physically, a minimum of six or eight times each night. (Curt is a big guy, around 195 lbs).
One day, our son's Case Manager came to do a house visit, and showed us some literature on the Freedom Turning Bed. We didn't know there was anything on the market to do such a thing.
I called ProBed and talked with Mr. Stephen Plummer, and he gave me loads of information about the bed. Steve was very informative and cooperative.
Eventually, we purchased a bed, and it was delivered around the end of September in 2006. I know it was a Friday. There was a team of men at our house for most of the weekend.
The men stayed at a local hotel, and no one left until everything was working right. They did everything to assure that our son was comfortable in his new bed. These guys were at our home when my son got ready for his bed and they came to our home in the morning to be sure that he slept comfortably.
One of the men stayed until Monday morning. "How's that for service!!!"
Our son slept through the night on the first night, only awakening when the bed turned because it was new to him. We never have been called from him to be turned since that night. We still have to do his itches, etc. but that Freedom Bed is a blessing for all of us.
The bed is quiet, good looking, very well built, and dependable. It even has a battery backup in case the power goes out.
If I have any questions about the bed, all I have to do is call the company and they have people that can talk through a fix or a computer adjustment.
Congratulations ProBed on making a fine product, one that has made life a lot easier for the three of us.
Wilfred, Elaine, and Curt Gauthier
376 Park Street,
Gardner, MA 01440
A Long Term Care Facility near Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Patient Background
On February 11, 2004, the resident, who is 92, began his therapy in the Freedom Bed. The resident had several ailments: Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Stage Four Pressure Ulcer on the Coccyx, Respiratory Ailment causing choking, requiring constant suctioning and Fed through a “G” Tube. The later two ailments required the head gatch to be raised to between 30˚ to 35˚.
The resident was also in a semi-fetal position with his legs raised towards his chest (as if in a seated position) requiring pillows to support them. The resident was non-communicative, nervous, tense, poor disposition and in pain.
Today
As of April 11, 2004, the stage four pressure ulcer is continuing to heal (see latest data below) and will be reclassified to a stage three. The charge nurse feels that at the current rate of recovery, by early June the resident may be able to get out of bed and into a wheel chair for a few hours per day.
The resident is no longer in a semi-fetal position but completely relaxed and stretched out in the bed. The resident sleeps very comfortably, is calm, quite talkative and no longer in pain.
The respiratory ailment has improved greatly, with the lungs now clear but still some mucous in the bronchial tubes. During the day the resident is able to clear the sputum himself. At night while asleep suctioning is occasionally required.
The resident is now able to and interested in eating some solid food and his weight has gone up by 2kg in the last month.
The bed is still programmed to automatically laterally turn the patient to 20˚ every 20 minutes.
The nurse now refers to the bed as “The Miracle Bed”.
Ulcer Data
| Date | April 2/04 | April 7/04 | April 15/04 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size (cm) | 2.5 x 3.5 | 2.3 x 2.8 | 2.0 x 2.6 |
| Depth (cm) | 2 | 1.5 | 1.2 |
| Tunneling (cm) | .2 | .1 | .1 |
Army Sgt. Joel Gomez, 24, has been in and out of hospitals since the Wheaton community began a quest to build him a home nearly a year ago, shortly after he was paralyzed in Iraq, to replace the small Wheaton apartment in which his family was living. He battled pneumonia, bed sores, infections, surgeries, fear of death and loss of hope at various points in those months.
Read more about his story and the role ProBed's Freedom Bed had in restoring restore some of the normalcy he enjoyed before being paralyzed from the neck down in Iraq.
Dear Steve,
The Freedom Bed from ProBed Medical Technologies Inc. is one of the most important products I’ve needed to preserve and enhance my quality of life.
My condition of Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy caused me over 20 years of progressively interrupted sleep. It not only affected me, but all my professional caregivers and family, as they had to turn me. Over these many years I’ve tried every kind of overlay, alternating air, and dry floatation mattress, but nothing ever worked, until the Freedom Bed.
The bed works so well for me because of the flexibility with the turning schedule and degree of turn programming. Once we determined the perfect positions and timing, all the pain caused by pressure ended. My sleep interruptions dropped from every 1-½ hours to less than twice in a twelve-hour period. The time it took for each interruption also dropped from 5 minutes down to a maximum of 2 due to less adjustments of my body.
Before the Freedom Bed I dreaded having to go to bed and endure the nightly chore of attempting sleep. Now I actually enjoy getting a full night of pain free rest to have energy to take on the day.
The Freedom Bed should be honored with an award for excellence in design, quality of workmanship, exemplary service, and a comfortable sleep. Thank you Steve and the ProBed team for providing me one of the most important pieces of equipment to sustain my health and well-being.
Sincerely yours,
Allan
P.S. I should also mention I’m ventilator-dependent and have not experienced any interference with the hoses and turning.
Dear Pro-Bed (Tony Da Costa),
I'm writing to tell you how your wonderful Freedom Bed has improved our lives. Ryan hasn't had pneumonia in 18 months and no new pressure sores. His skin is healthy and he is comfortable. His lungs are clear and he and he now has enough strength to blow out a candle.
As an 11-year-old Quad with a rare disorder and multiple past surgeries, Ryan was either getting sick, or getting over being sick but his Freedom Bed changed all that. His doctors are, of course, pleased, and I must say that they are also quite impressed at the difference Ryan's bed has made in his health in the 18 months he has had it.
The quality of this bed is also remarkable it hasn't needed any service or repair and is easy to operate. And I also like how it looks in his bedroom - no "Institutional Look" here! Thank you so much! We would recommend the Freedom Bed to anyone!
Gratefully,
Amy Post (Mother)
Hello my name is Matt and I am a C-4, 5 quadriplegic complete spinal cord injury. I have used the Turn-Q mattress previously before the ProBed. I love the ProBed way more than the Turn-Q mattress. I also feel safer knowing that I have a two-day battery backup.
I am able to control the ProBed with voice commands that are connected to a separate unit. In the old bed once the cycle had started turning, I was stuck in the cycle and could not change it on my own. Now I have more independence; being able to make the bed move with my voice commands. If I am uncomfortable, I can change the way I am positioned at any time. I have a drinking system that is set up on the left side of my bed. In the old bed I had to be awake and catch the straw for water when I was hopefully facing the left side. Now I can just make the bed turn to the left side.
There is not an air motor running all the time, although the computer part of the voice activation system does have a motor. Motors make noise which can keep you awake at night. The computers motor is much quieter than the old Turn Q mattresses air motor. If the power goes out on the Freedom Bed, I do not have to worry about the mattress deflating, like with the old air mattress. I can remember during thunderstorms praying for the power not to go out, because if it did that would mean that I would be laying on a hard springy surface. With the ProBed, the mattress will never lose air, because there is none to lose. With the ProBed I can easily have my caregiver change how long I stay on one side, as well as how much the bed will tilt degree wise. A few degrees may not seem like a lot, but when you are a spinal cord injury patient one degree makes a big difference. It is the same as people without injuries having a preference with how firm their mattress is.
Having a bed that turns you all night long while you are asleep is essentially doing the same thing that the human body does naturally while sleeping for a non- injured person. Pressure is relieved and no sores are developed. Having the ability to raise the head to lower blood pressure comes in handy. As does the ability to raise the blood pressure or to rid the lower extremities of edema by raising the feet of the bed.
Now the Trendelenburg feature of this bed is like icing on the cake. This feature comes in handy by allowing the body to be positioned even better. Pneumonia is the biggest fear of most quadriplegics. Having the ability to put my head way lower, allows my lungs to drain. Since I do not have the lower lung ability to do it myself. Abracadabra, the ProBed does one more thing.
There are numerous advantages to having the ProBed. The fact that it uses 12V motors for the most part of the mechanical operations. This bed will last longer than me. That means I do not have to (bleep) around with the VA or insurance companies every five years trying to get a bed replaced.
One of my favourite non-medical features of the bed is the wood grain finish. It makes me feel like I am sleeping in an actual bed, instead of feeling like I live in a hospital 24 hours a day 365 days a year. I really do enjoy that! My caregivers like the fact that the bed can be raised or lowered for the tallest caregiver or the smallest one. Since no two people are the same why would you have one fixed level for a bed that multiple caregivers will use throughout your lifetime? So this keeps your caregiver's backs from going out.
I have used many different mattresses and beds in the five years since my entry into the world of disabilities. By far, this bed is the best bed for both the patient and his or her caregivers. If there was another bed better than this I would be writing for them not ProBed. But the ProBed is the best bed on the market. Trust me I know because I looked for a month every day all day.
There is nothing else out there!
Sincerely,
Matthew Robert Lemke (Veteran)
In the 7th grade, I had surgery that left me unable to roll at night by myself. When you don't roll at night, sores develop on the body and other problems such as respiratory difficulty developed. My parents would wake up on average 4 times per night to roll me over, but even then the weight of my own body created sores and pain. I would wake up congested and aching.
For six years this went on. I tried many different beds; glorified air mattresses, water beds, more air mattresses, padding, and yet more gargantuan air mattresses that were meant not only to relieve pressure on my body but to turn me over at night. They not only lacked effectiveness in turning my body over, but also in relieving pressure and helping with my respiratory problems. It was then my family learned of the Freedom BedTM, by ProBed Medical.
I tried the Freedom BedTM at someone else's home and immediately a smile rose to my face. I was able to independently control if I wanted to roll over or not, and my whole body DID turn. Upon actually getting the bed and using it, my morning respiratory difficulty cleared up immediately. The pain in my body was alleviated and the sores went away.
The features that this bed had was that it was a solid frame that was moving and could be automatically set or controlled via a single button. An air mattress would not work for a man of my size- the air sides would inflate and deflate on either side without even affecting me. With the Freedom bed's solid frame moving, you DO roll over when you want to and what side you choose. This is another feature that other beds don't have. The results were improved health and better sleep for my parents and I. The Freedom BedTM is something I would recommend to anyone.
Sincerely,
Dan Hebert
College Student (Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type II)
The bed has been wonderful, and has made a few trips already between New York and New Hampshire, as Dan goes back and forth to college. I wanted him to write the letter-not us, but needless to say, we love it as much as he does!!
Thank you,
Wanda Hebert (mother)
Dear Jack,
I wanted to let you and Steve know how very much we value and appreciate Chad’s new bed. It is quite remarkable how we were able to determine that Chad sleeps best when he is turned every 20 minutes, and we were able to program his bed to do just that. Also, the remote switch that you have included is very helpful to Chad, so that when he gets a cramp, he can initiate an extra turn himself.
As you know, we had tried the computerized low air-loss mattress systems, during Chad’s many visits to the two major hospitals in Orlando. Although they “turned” him on a set interval, the surface made him sink into the side to which he was turning and pinned his arm in the soft part of the mattress. Chad has very poor circulation and with his inability to move his arm out of the way, his arm would turn purple, due to the pressure. With the firm and segmented surface of the Freedom Bed™, that isn’t a problem. Also, the noise that the motor in the air-loss beds made whenever he turned or we had to inflate or deflate the mattress was a constant source of irritation to Chad. The air-loss mattress systems also would not have been appropriate for use in our home as we often experience power surges and outages that would have interfered with the continuity of the bed’s operation. Chad’s sleep patterns, such as they are in the best of circumstances are highly irregular and he is easily disturbed. The smooth, quiet operation of your bed and the extra remote control also add to make extended, undisturbed sleep more possible.
As I told you before, we would be most pleased to share our extremely positive experience with the Freedom Bed™ with anyone who would be interested in observing how easy it is to program and operate and how comfortable it is to use. Thanks again for making such a wonderfully thoughtful product.
Respectfully,
Rich, Pam, & Chad Rosenberg,
Orlando, Florida
Dear Steve:
I have been sleeping in your pro bed for over a year now, and I have to tell you that it's lived up to all our expectations.
As a quadriplegic, I have to be turned from one side to the other several times each night to avoid skin ulcers or pressure sores. We thought we'd need someone in the house overnight to turn me at the appropriate times. This would not only be expensive but also an invasion of our privacy beyond what we were willing to tolerate. When we learned about your bed, we knew this was the answer - if it actually worked. But we took a leap of faith and invested our own money in what we felt was an expensive piece of equipment. Let me tell you that it was one of the best investments we have made relative to my needs. The bed has performed its turning function flawlessly. Neither my wife or I are aware of movement during the night, and (touch wood) I have had no skin problems since leaving hospital fourteen months ago. From a financial perspective, the bed will have paid for itself within two years.
My attendants find the bed, with its tilting, rolling and vertical lift functions, helpful in getting up in the morning and back into at night. When the gatches are added, allowing me to sit up and read or whatever, we will be even happier with your product.
Just in case you want someone other than yourself to read this, let me state unequivocally that I offer to put my feelings on this bed in writing, without any kind of suggestion from you that I should do it. Further to this, I would be pleased to speak with anyone who might be contemplating purchasing the pro bed.
Thank you for your assistance last evening, which leads me to make one more statement: that you and your colleagues have been unfailingly courteous and helpful.
Sincerely,
Ed Smith
Dear Peter:
We purchased a Freedom Bed™ from you in 1996. This letter is to report that it has been operating flawlessly since then. Only recently, have we even had to change the batteries!
I know that you have many satisfied customers. However, you may wish to hear from us because we have had the Freedom Bed™ in constant use for such a long period of time.
Our daughter, Jennifer, who is now 10 years old, has been using the Freedom Bed™ since she was five years old. Because she is unable to turn on her own, the Freedom Bed™ has given us many nights of sleep free from interruption from turning.
Sometimes we take the Freedom Bed™ for granted. But we are quickly reminded of its value when we travel anywhere overnight with our daughter.
I can confidently say that the Freedom Bed™ has been one of the best investments we have made to enhance our life. A further bonus is that it requires little or no maintenance and any maintenance that is required is well supported by your firm.
We can heartily recommend your product to others in similar situations and would be happy to take any calls to confirm that.
Yours truly,
Geoffrey Gudewill
My name is Steven Boren, I am 24 years old.
About nine years ago, I was involved in a bicycle accident in which I suffered a broken neck. This caused severe paralysis, rendering me a quadriplegic. I was 15 years old at the time and was told that my chances for recovering normal use of my limbs was very unlikely.
My injury occurred in Trail, British Columbia, a small city which lacked the facilities I needed for rehabilitation, I was moved to Vancouver and eventually enrolled in the G. F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre. At G. F. Strong, I learned the skills I would need to get on with my life, including the use of a powered wheelchair, basic skills such as feeding myself; getting in and out of bed and as well as other abilities that had to be learned.
I had no intention of being institutionalized, or of depending on others unduly for my care. I saw that the most feasible way of accomplishing this was through higher education and the use of state of the art technical aids.
One of the most difficult problems I encountered as a result of my paralysis was my inability to move while sleeping. I therefore had to be turned manually by nurses every two hours to avoid pressure sores, lower G.I. Infections and other complications. At the time, my mother was assisting in my recovery and during weekend visits home, she was responsible for my care. We quickly discovered that the biggest problem in my returning home was that her sleep would also be disturbed since she would have to awaken and turn me every two hours.
In February 1980, I learned that G. F. Strong was testing a new type of bed. Several other patients and I inquired as to its suitability for my particular situation. This led to my own trial period with the ProBed Home Care unit. I quickly discovered that being turned by this bed was far better than being turned manually. It was possible now for me, and my mother, to get a good night's sleep.
Subsequently, I was discharged from G. F. Strong centre and moved back to my home town of Trail where I continued use of the ProBed. I completed my remaining three years of high school and went on to Selkirk College for the first year of a university transfer program. During these four years of education I was required to maintain a stringent schedule to get to school and do all my work as well as cope with all the other issues of being a quadriplegic. The ProBed was an indispensable asset through this time, since I was able to get the restful sleep I needed to accomplish my goals. I also meant that I didn't have to burden my family with the responsibility of tuning me every two hours throughout the night.
During my post secondary education and my experience of adjustment to my condition in returning to Vancouver, the ProBed has continued to prove a key element in letting me have an independent living status [a condition necessary for my current residence] and in allowing me to maintain a high level of health. The ProBed has freed me from many of the health problems, which immobile people face when unable to move during the night.
Through my knowledge of others with similar disabilities, I have found that I have encountered far fewer health related problems stemming from over exposure to pressure points while in bed.
Continued use of the ProBed will eventually make possible my goal of completely self sufficient living with my own home, job and independent care system I am currently a computer programmer/systems analyst for a leading edge computer display manufacturer, based in North Vancouver, British Columbia and have enjoyed a great deal of success in providing key software for their products.
If I had to list the three main contributing factors to my success of achieving my goals, the first would be my parent, the second would be the inspiration which people like Rick Hansen have provided, and the third is my ProBed and the resulting freedom it has given me.
Sincerely,
Steven L. Boren
Nothing enhances life so much as freedom. It goes beyond freedom of expression or the right to work. As most of us working in the Rehab field know, freedom can be closely intertwined with ability. Freedom just to turn or to cough. The simple freedom from being disturbed several times a night to be repositioned. FREEDOM TO BE INDEPENDENT.
A Rehab Technology specialist lives an ongoing vigil to expand the horizons of his clientele. Each day is a quest to identify flew means and methods to utilize the abilities people possess. It is our responsibility to create LIFE where there was only existence. Often you have a client with a specific need and you just can not find the technology to fill the void. That is when the real quest begins, you visualize what is needed and implant the vision in your memory. It is always there and forefront in your mind. Then one day, THERE IT IS!
I had a case like this recently. A young man in rural west Texas living at home with his elderly parents. Nighttime nursing was costing them a fortune, and it was only needed to implement a turning schedule. We decided to pursue other avenues to accomplish MS needs for re-positioning during the night. We tried air surfaces that provided lateral turning, but they had a distal pivot and caused him to slide down when the mattress inflated to turn him. Everything we tried was the same, he would slide when the unit tilted because of the pivot point. Sliding not only caused discomfort and insecurity, but caused real tissue concerns due to shear. Even had we decided to utilize some of this equipment, the cost was quite astronomical and well beyond the grasp of the average person. We tried several different methods to no avail, finally deciding to table the idea and search for flew products being developed.
I had the opportunity to go to the Future Show at Reno, Nevada. My primary reason for attending was to take part in the Pre-Certification study course for the RESNA certification, given by the folks at the University of Pittsburgh. While waiting for class to begin, my wife and I walked through Future Show. Being limited on time, I breezed through pretty quickly trying to absorb as much as possible. Looking at the industry news bulletin board I saw an ad that caught my attention. A company out of Canada by the name of ProBed Medical Technologies Inc. was interested in U.S. dealers for a turning bed they manufacture. I was intrigued. This bed was supposedly a mechanical turning surface, rather than the customary air inflation. This sounded like just what I had been looking for to provide some freedom and independence for my patient. I visited their site on the Internet (https://www.pro-bed.com/) and immediately I knew I had completed my quest. I e-mailed them requesting information and pricing and waited impatiently for a return call. When the call came I was excited to hear even more good news, the bed was AFFORDABLE!
The purchase price for this bed was only two thirds of the yearly budget they currently spent on night time turning. This one time purchase would SAVE my patient a considerable amount over a period of years. Interestingly enough, my patient had been requesting freedom in nighttime positioning, this product was named, the Freedom Bed™!
I had my patient visit the ProBed Internet site and look at the unit, he was VERY excited. I then had the people at ProBed call my patient to explain the mechanics of the unit, they E-Mailed back and forth several times with additional information. Finally we decided we wished to demo the Freedom Bed™ and they sent out a unit immediately.
When the unit arrived, Steve Plummer from ProBed came down to demo the bed to my patient and to show us the programming features available on the bed. We were VERY impressed. Aesthetically appealing, extremely programmable, quiet, energy efficient, and very cost effective the unit even had a built in battery backup allowing the bed to operate for up to 3 days in the event of power failure (something occurring quite often in rural west Texas). My patient immediately chose to purchase the Freedom Bed™
After evaluation of this exciting new product I have come to appreciate the intricacies of its therapeutic benefits. Obviously, it provides the movement needed to alleviate pressure concerns, but there is much more benefit this unit offers. The Freedom Bed™ is much more comfortable and quiet than the average turning surface, but one of the most appreciated aspects is total independence. In addition to maintaining skin integrity, my patient reports much better bowel regularity and a drastic decrease of bladder problems. Before the Freedom Bed™, my patient had bladder infections quite often, since utilizing this bed and its capabilities he has had no bladder infections at all. The ability to override the schedule and turn at his command offers him the opportunity to dispel fluid, easing respiration and clearing his lungs. The unit offers him the ability to turn and cough when he feels the need. It also allows him to turn in the night to urinate, due to loss of muscle control urination when supine is near impossible. Another simple pleasure that is overlooked is overall sleep quality. The bed turns automatically and quietly, there is not someone coming in and waking you for turning. He has much better energy throughout the whole day and is able to focus mentally with better clarity because sleep quality leaves him refreshed and rested.
The technology this bed brings will assist in keeping people out of nursing homes. It will downsize staffing needs for home nursing programs saving astronomical amounts for the patients budget. The Freedom Bed™ offers independence and peace of mind as well as therapeutic and rehabilitative benefit. It will enable people to maintain working status, and improve overall quality of life.
As a Rehab professional, I am incredulous at the prospects this technology offers my clientele. I am not employed by ProBed Medical Technologies Inc., and have no financial interest in the Freedom Bed™ other than as a participating dealer for their beds. I do have a strong interest in the benefits this technology offers my patients, friends, and family. Being certified by RESNA and NRRTS I receive many inquiries from people regarding technology, and I highly recommend this product and the incredible benefits it offers.
Jeff L. Day, ATS, CRTS
"The product is really only surpassed by the excellent customer service. ProBed was there for any questions, any time of the day, even in the middle of the night. Two thumbs up, or five stars as they say. The product really helped our family during a difficult period.”
Steve York