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This was expected. Change is tough and its harder with Alzheimers. She was never going to realize the need herself. Just hoping the transition and acceptance takes days and not weeks.

Your mother decided she was going to hate this hospital bed before it even came into the house, as evidenced by your statement, "i bought the gel pad. It's a nice bed. She decided she hated it before she even tried it, for all of 10 seconds." Either give her back her old bed and wait until the hospital bed is a 100% necessity, or ignore the complaining. Acceptance is rare with AD and even rarer with personality types that fight us on everything.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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I had that problem with my mother and the Hospice people recommended a top cover that inflates and deflates in random areas of the bed. It's called an "Alternating Pressure Pad". You can find it on Amazon for around $80.00. It helps to avoid bed sores and it made all the difference with mom.
I hope this helps!
--Tom
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Reply to Tommoore1
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I’m sorry for yet another challenge. Would she possibly be amenable to pretty sheets in a pattern appealing to her? Sometimes lipstick on a pig does help
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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TrishaAlvis Jan 7, 2026
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These beds usually come with a foam mattress covered in plastic. Maybe she would do better with an innerspring mattress. Or even a better foam one. You can always cover the mattress with a water resistant cover you put the mattress inside of and zip it up.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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I had that problem with my brother, he would only sleep in his recliner. After a while I would get in the bed, raise the back and put my feet up, like a recliner. It took a while, but now he uses the bed. They don't like change, it takes time.
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Reply to Tina1923
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I have learned through experience that there are different styles and qualities of hospital beds. Over 20 years ago, when my mother was dying, I moved her into a spare bedroom in my home and the doctor ordered a hospital bed from a medical supply company, which was delivered and set up by the provider. I knew nothing about home care at the time, this was all thrust on me so suddenly at the age of 42. The bed that was delivered was cheap, lightweight, more like a fold out cot with springs. Mom didn't complain. She was too near the end. Although she did note that is wasn't very comfortable, and she ended up sleeping sitting up in a recliner.
10 years ago, when I received a donated hospital bed for my incapacitated husband, I immediately recognized the difference between a light-weight, fold out bed frame, and a "real" hospital style heavy duty steel frame with all the electric adjustments; raise and lower the bed, trendelenburg positioning, head and leg independently raising and lowering. I spent over $400 on a quality mattress with a waterproof cover. I subsequently had to purchase another new bed when my husband fried the motor on the donated bed. He liked to press the button to raise and lower the bed repeatedly - it was self-soothing.
I bought another great, heavy duty bed frame and quality mattress - I think we've gone through 4 mattress by now. It is quite comfortable, although it is different and will take anyone some time to adjust to.
The point I'm trying to make is you get what you pay for, if you go cheap on a hospital bed, thinking it's only temporary. The cheap ones are not very comfortable for the patient or useful for the care provider. A good quality bed can make a huge difference, but it comes with a pretty high price tag.
I lucked out - our first bed was donated, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. And I'm pretty sure my husband's insurance covered the cost of the second bed. It was a couple thousand dollars. Plus around $400 for a mattress (Invacare)

You might try a different type of mattress for your mom, and make sure she has easy access to the controls, so she can try and adjust it for her comfort. I hope she adjusts soon to her new environment.
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Reply to CaringWifeAZ
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I think that if the caregiver needs this, then it's a must for changing, bathing, turning, cleanliness and hygiene. It can save your back.

However, if this isn't something the caregiver wants, then I can't see the real reason to have one, to spend all this money for one. They often comes with mattresses so full of plastic you literally cannot sleep without sweating, and being quite uncomfortable without a lot of toppers, that really kind of ruin the whole idea of one.

Just something to truly think a lot about before doing it, because these are money makers for companies and they are constantly pushed.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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The hospital bed mattresses are uncomfortable.

Mom pronounced that she did not like the hospital bed after she slept on it for 2 nights. She said it was uncomfortable.

We pushed it to the wall where it sat for 18 months while Mom continued to sleep in her nice comfy king bed.
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Reply to brandee
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She might like one of those foam toppers. You could encase the topper in a waterproof cover that is soft, not crinkly. Methinks your mom might just want something to complain about. Such is the nature of some dementia patients. Today the bed, tomorrow the invisible people who follow her around and mutter in her ear. It happens.
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Reply to Fawnby
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firsttimer1 Dec 31, 2025
i bought the gel pad. It's a nice bed. She decided she hated it before she even tried it, for all of 10 seconds
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we got a regular mattress . Dad didn’t use the controls much at all - it helped him be more comfortable. i also made covers for the head and foot of the bed so the bed didn’t “ look” like a hosp bed. ( i covered that ugly brown with some nice fabric that went with his room.)that may help. God bless
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Reply to stressedmess
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