As we age, we lose our mobility and often need some extra help to avoid accidents and injuries. Movements like getting into bed or reaching for a book on the shelf get more difficult.
Fortunately, there are bed steps for elderly that allow you to move with freedom and find your stability again. We collected five bed step stools so that you can choose the one that is the best fit for your lifestyle and needs.
Who Needs Bed Steps?
Bed steps have various target users because they can come handy in many situations. Elderly people often lose their mobility and flexibility with time so they need extra help to step in or out of bed or a bathtub.
Injured, handicapped or invalid people can have restricted mobility too. Bedside step stools are making sure that users avoid unnecessary injuries and accidents.
It’s important to keep in mind that step stools for children are often not suitable for adults. Grownups need step stools that have higher weight capacity, are stable and sturdy, and have a bigger stepping platform.
Therefore, it is worth it to invest in bed steps that are made specifically for adults.
How to Choose Bed Steps?
There are many factors you have to keep in mind when choosing a bed step. At the end of the day, you want to buy a product that fits your needs the best and that you can use for a long time.
Handrails
One of the most important questions when choosing a bed step is whether it should have handrails or not. Handrails offer extra support and safety but they also mean that you need bigger space to store the bed steps.
For elderly and for injured people, handrails are often essential to make sure they keep their stability. Handrails should be used only for extra support and not to completely rely on them. If the handrails are too heavy, the whole structure can tip over and cause accidents.
Seniors who have arthritis should look for bed step stools that have foam-padded handrails because they are easier to grip.
Adjustability
Consider the situations you want to use the bed steps for. Are you going to use it only for reaching the bed or do you also need it to reach higher shelves and cupboards? If you want to use the step stool for many actions, you might want to consider buying a multifunctional one.
If there will be more than one person using the step stool, you probably need to adjust the height of the step and the handrails. Instead of buying two different step stools, you could invest in an adjustable version.
Portability
Before buying bed step stools, think about the purpose you need them for. If you only need them to get in and out of bed, portability is not a necessity. However, if you want to use them in the bathroom or in the kitchen, portability and lightweight is crucial.
Moreover, if you need to transport the bed step stools or you want to travel with them, you should purchase portable or even foldable versions.
Size
Always consider size and how much space you have to move and store the bed steps. The majority of the products have descriptions of their dimensions online.
Foldability is another factor you have to consider here. If you plan to use the bed step stool only occasionally, you might want to buy a foldable version that you can store somewhere until the next time you use it.
Moreover, think about the required size of the step base. Smaller adults or elderly might not need a bed step with a large base.
Material
We recommend looking for bed step stools that have durable, high-quality materials. You wouldn’t want to buy a step stool that you have to replace every few months.
Stainless steel is durable and it is easy to clean it. To avoid slipping, choose a product that comes with a non-skid, rubber platform.
Design
Although safety, stability and durability are the priorities when choosing bed step stools for elderly, design can play an important role too. At the end of the day, the product will be visible in your home so you might as well choose one that fits your home decor and looks pleasing.
Wooden step stools look stylish but they can be very slippery so it is better not to take any chances.
Price
Last but not least, price and your budget are important factors to consider when purchasing bed steps. There are a lot of affordable products available and a higher price doesn’t always mean higher quality. Extra features like LED light or adjustable handrails might add extra costs.
Step2Bed Bed Step For Elderly
The Step2Bed is a bed step for elrderly with adjustable height. This way, you can customize the step stool for different beds and you don’t need to buy various step stools.
The Step2Bed be step stool has easy-to-grab handles that are durable and provide extra support and safety. The product is lightweight and portable and it is made of sturdy steel. The Step2Bed features velcro straps and an extra-wide base step that offer additional security and prevent slipping. Its weight capacity is 400 lbs.
Moreover, this bed step stool comes with motion-activated LED light that makes stepping in and out of bed easier in darkness. The product comes with 30-day warranty and it is easy to assemble it.
The disadvantage of the Step2Bed is its higher price and its bigger size that can make it difficult to move it around in smaller rooms.
| Pros | Cons |
| Lightweight and portableExtra-wide base step and sturdy steel materialAdjustable heightHigh weight capacity (400 lbs) | Relatively expensiveBig size |
Sattiyrch Portable Step Stool for Adults
The Sattiyrch folding step stool is lightweight and portable. If folded, its thickness is only 1.57 inch which makes it a space-saving product. You can even store it in a drawer. The Sattiyrch bed step stool weighs only 4.07 lbs which allows you to move it around with ease.
The Sattiyrch bed step is made of solid steel with locks on each leg. This ensures stability and makes the step stool reliable and safe. Its board and the supporting feet have anti-skid Thermoplastic Rubber and Polyethylene coating to prevent slipping. Its weight capacity is 330 lbs.
The biggest advantage of this product is its multifunctionality. The Sattiyrch step stool is suitable for many occasions. You can use it to get in and out of bed; to reach higher shelves or use it as a home step stool, a fishing stool or a toilet stool. There is no assembly required so it is ready-to-use as soon as you purchase it.
Its disadvantage is the lack of handrails. This step stool won’t be a good fit for those who need extra support and safety.
| Pros | Cons |
| Lightweight and foldableAnti-skid coating to avoid slippingMultifunctional | No handrailsNot stable on oak floors |
Vaunn Medical Foot Step Stool with Handle
The Vaunn medical foot step stool has triple-layered, chrome-plated heavy duty steel construction that makes it extra durable. Thanks to its coating it stays rust-free for a lifetime.
This step stool for elderly features wider legs than the standard footstools in the market which ensures increased stability. Thanks to its non-slip rubber platform, the reinforced rubber feet and the firm and stable hand grip, the Vaunn step stool offers extra stability and safety.
As the company claims, there was one concept in mind when they designed this step stool for elderly: stability. Its weight capacity is 250 lbs.
The Vaunn medical steep stool is multifunctional and versatile. It is used by medical professionals in hospitals, clinics and laboratories. At home, you can use it for getting in and out of bed, reaching for higher cupboards or even as a sitting stool during gardening.
The only disadvantage of this step stool is that it requires assembly and some customers found the instructions vague.
| Pros | Cons |
| Extra durable and rust-free coatingWider legs that ensure stabilityVersatile design | Requires assemblingOften delivered without rubber feet caps |
AdjustaStep Deluxe Step Stool
The AdjustaStep has a multifunctional design as you can use it with or without the handles. Removing the handles also enables easy storage. The heights of the step and the handle are both adjustable so you can customize them for your needs.
The handrail is non-slip and padded, while the step also has non-slip pad and rubber foot grips which all ensure reliability and stability. Its weight capacity is 300 lbs.
The drawback of the modern design is that it sticks out and might not be compatible with your home decor. It also belongs to the medium price range category.
| Pros | Cons |
| Can be used with or without handlesAdjustable heightNon-slip pad and rubber foot | Modern, flashy designHandle is not very stable |
Vive Heavy Duty Step Stool with Handle
The Vive Heavy Duty Step Stool features wide-angled legs, a sturdy handrail and a non-slip rubber platform for added stability. You can safely use it on any level surface without slipping, including tile and hardwood floors. This is thanks to the legs which are capped with wide, non-marking rubber tips that grip the floor.
Its sturdy handrail is angled inward for greater stability. The Vive bed step stool is made of corrosion-resistant steel and it weighs only 7 lbs. Although it is lightweight, its capacity is 300 lbs.
Vive offers a 60-day guarantee so you can purchase the product with confidence.
Its disadvantage is that it is not adjustable so you cannot customize it for your needs. Some customers claimed that it is too high for people with bad knees.
| Pros | Cons |
| Sturdy handrail, angled inwardRubber-capped legs to avoid slipping60-day guarantee | Not adjustableMight be too high for people with bad knees |
Conclusion
Bed steps for elderly come in various shapes, forms and price categories. It is worth it to spend some time researching the available step stools before making the final decision.
Safety, stability and durability should always be your priority. Fortunately, there are online customer reviews that can help you make a better decision