Updated August 2026. Written by the Mobility Co team, Cheltenham.
If your parent struggles to get in or out of bed, the things that help most are the right bed height, so their feet reach the floor and their knees sit a touch below their hips, a firm edge to sit on, and something solid to hold. When it is a daily struggle, an adjustable bed raises them to a sitting position at the push of a button, and a hi-lo bed also raises and lowers the whole bed to a safe height for getting up and for carers. We fit these at our Cheltenham showroom and bring them to homes across bayside and south-east Melbourne.
Getting out of bed is a surprisingly complex movement: rolling, pushing up to sitting, then standing, often first thing in the morning when the body is stiffest. Age, arthritis, weakness after illness or surgery, or simply a bed that is too low or too soft can turn it into a real effort, or a two-person job in the middle of the night. Families often notice it when a parent starts sleeping in a recliner to avoid the bed, or when helping them up becomes a strain on the carer’s back. Like getting out of a chair, it is very fixable once you know what to change.
Some quick, low-cost wins:
If those settle it and the nights are calm, great. If it is still hard, or you are being called to help, the bed itself is usually the answer.
An adjustable bed raises the head section so your parent can go from lying down to sitting upright at the push of a button, which takes the hardest part out of getting up and makes reading, watching television and breathing easier too. A hi-lo bed goes a step further: the whole bed raises and lowers, so it can drop low to prevent injury from a roll-out and rise to a safe height for standing up or for a carer to help without bending. For anyone whose nights have become a worry, the right bed gives everyone back their sleep.
The main decisions are the type and the fit. An adjustable bed suits most people who mainly need help sitting up and getting comfortable; a hi-lo bed suits those who need the whole bed to change height for safe transfers or for a carer. Then it is about the right size and the right mattress firmness for the person, whether one partner needs to adjust their side without disturbing the other, and whether a rail or pole should go alongside. Our full guide to the best adjustable beds in Melbourne covers all of it, but as ever, fit and the person’s actual mornings decide the choice, not the brochure.
Bed height and firmness are personal, so we fit the bed to the person. You are welcome to try the range at our Cheltenham showroom at 2/136 Keys Road, and because moving a parent to a showroom is not always practical, we bring beds and advice to homes across bayside and south-east Melbourne, from Sandringham and Beaumaris to Highett, Bentleigh and Moorabbin and the surrounding south-east suburbs. We deliver, set the bed up, show everyone how it works and remove the old one if you would like.
Often, and hi-lo beds in particular are a recognised assistive technology, so they are usually more straightforward than comfort items. We are a registered provider and prepare compliant quotes, usually within 24 hours.
An occupational therapist can assess and recommend, and we will prepare the quote in the format they and your provider need. Call 1300 225 203 with no obligation.
Worried about your parent getting in and out of bed safely? Come and try an adjustable or hi-lo bed at our Cheltenham showroom, or we will bring one to their home anywhere in bayside Melbourne.
An adjustable bed raises the head section so they can sit upright at the push of a button, which takes the effort out of getting up. A hi-lo bed also raises and lowers the whole bed to a safe standing height and can drop low to reduce injury from a roll-out. Both make getting in and out of bed far easier.
An adjustable bed changes the position of the mattress, raising the head and often the feet. A hi-lo bed does that too but also raises and lowers the entire bed height, which helps with safe transfers and lets a carer work without bending. Hi-lo beds suit higher needs; adjustable beds suit most people who mainly need help sitting up.
As a rule of thumb, when they sit on the edge their feet should rest flat on the floor with knees level with, or just below, their hips. Too low makes standing hard and too high is unsafe. An adjustable or hi-lo bed lets you set the right height rather than guess.
Our beds range from $1,995 to $6,995 depending on the type, the size and whether a compatible mattress is included, from adjustable bases up to hi-lo beds at the higher end. We price each bed once it is fitted to the person, and funded quotes are usually ready within 24 hours. Our adjustable beds guide explains the range in detail.
Support at Home, which replaced Home Care Packages in 2025, may fund an adjustable or hi-lo bed through its AT-HM scheme where an assessor agrees it is needed, and NDIS may where it relates to a participant’s disability. Hi-lo beds are a recognised assistive technology, so they are often more straightforward than comfort items. We are a registered provider and prepare compliant quotes, usually within 24 hours.
Used correctly, a bed rail or floor-to-ceiling pole gives a helpful, stable handhold for rolling over, sitting up and standing. The right type depends on the person and the bed, so it is worth having it recommended and fitted properly rather than guessing. We can advise on the safest option for your parent’s setup.
Often not with an adjustable base, because the mattress needs to flex with the bed. We will tell you honestly whether an existing mattress will work or whether a compatible one is needed, and help choose the right firmness for comfort and for getting on and off easily.
Start with the right bed height, a firm edge and something solid to hold. If getting in or out of bed is still a struggle, an adjustable bed sits them up at the push of a button and a hi-lo bed changes the whole bed height for safe transfers. Try one at our Cheltenham showroom, or we will bring it to your parent’s home anywhere in bayside Melbourne. Call 1300 225 203.