A BED which could change the lives of people requiring care at home and let couples maintain existing sleeping arrangements has been developed thanks to a collaboration between two firms.
The arrival of a hospital bed can often lead to upset for a person and their family, but this Irish innovation will offer more choice, flexibility and comfort and allow couples to stay together.
Long-established Meath company Briody Beds and Santry0based homecare provider Comfort Keepers have developed a range of dual-use beds which preserve all the comforts of a homely bed with the features and functions of a hospital.
The homecare market in Ireland is estimated to be worth just over €700m a year. Projected demand for homecare is expected to increase by 50pc in the next decade according to the Economic and Social Research Institue (ESRI).
The Government has undertaken to introduce a statutory entitlement to home care by 2021. “We had both secured Business All-Star Awards at Croke Park and had a conversation to see if there were ways in which we could collaborate in the homecare market,” said David Briody, managing director of Oldcastle, Co Meath-based Briody Beds.
The companies have invested €30,000 to date to bring the product to the prototype stage.
“People want to remain and stay happy at home. The effect a hospital bed can have in the home is quite traumatic,” said Rosanna Martin, head of marketing at Comfort Keepers.
“The person and their families can often find it very difficult to swap their bed for a hospital-style bed. It can be a change too far for many and can bring about a severe sense of loss for people already adjusting to considerable change.
“The idea around this bed is to give someone the practicality they need but with the comfort they already have in their own bed.”
