Bed Assist Apparatus for Seniors

As folks get to a certain age - particularly those with physical issues - they may find getting in and out of bed a bit of a challenge.  My wife's Parkinson's is one example of that.

Per recommendation by her physical therapist I ordered the much highly rated commercially available contraption. I returned it once I put it together because I didn't believe in its stability, let alone the complicated way of its installation, particularly on a king size bed. 

So, I came up with my own version as a woodworking project. One significant difference is in the two support legs. I designed mine with feet - a prominent heel and extended feet, which adds to the stability. The horizontal platform - the tongue - inserts in between the bottom of the top mattress and the top base of the bed frame.

It is stable enough but  a nut and bolt (see next photo) secures it to the bed frame. The apparatus can be conveniently moved away when the need to change the bed sheets arises.

I did a rough sketch, changed the dimensions a few times to arrive at a truly customized version.  I actually revised it several times in my head as I figured the best, yet simple way, for constructing it - using screws all the way.

A friend had given me a while back some leftover wood flooring pieces -solid oak pieces with one side finished.

Tapering the feet (below).

I created the notches on the legs to which  matching notches on the feet will allow for a strong joint (using screws only)

Drilling the pocket holes for pocket screws

Below - shaping the heel of the feet

The short piece across and parallel to the "tongue" makes for a secure, precisely located as to act as a c-clamp to the bed frame.

The grab bar is commercially available.  I've used several in each of the bathrooms for my wife's use mainly.

Note below the t-bolt and knob and a backer board that acts like a washer behind the bed frame.

To make an accurate positioning of the apparatus, I drilled through to the bed frame using the hole I drilled earlier on the rail as shown below to accommodate a 5/16 inch bolt. A knob secures the attachment.

My wife can now hold on to the grab bar as she slowly gets up on the bed. It also allows her something to hold on to in getting up and out of the bed.