Can an adjustable bed replace a wedge pillow?

For clients who need to sleep elevated every night, yes. Wedge pillows shift during the night, put pressure on the lower back, and are frequently rejected by clients within a few weeks. A powered adjustable bed maintains the prescribed incline consistently and can be re-adjusted without disturbing sleep.

Is the bed compatible with oxygen concentrators and CPAP?

Yes. Our adjustable beds are compatible with home oxygen concentrators, CPAP and BiPAP setups. During the pre-trial planning call we confirm cable routing, socket placement and equipment positioning so the setup works safely in the client's bedroom.

Can I trial a respiratory positioning bed at home?

Yes. Sleep Choice delivers, installs and demonstrates the bed in the client's home for 7 nights. Respiratory symptoms are strongly influenced by real bedroom conditions, temperature, humidity, existing pillow setup, that cannot be replicated in a showroom.

Is this equipment funded through NDIS, HCP or SAH?

Yes. Adjustable beds prescribed for respiratory positioning are funded through NDIS, Home Care Packages and Support at Home AT-HM. We provide the OT-ready trial report and product documentation for the funding request.

What angle of elevation is right for COPD?

A starting point of 30 to 40 degrees head elevation suits most COPD clients. The exact angle is refined during the trial based on the client's comfort, symptom relief and any accessory equipment such as CPAP. Very steep angles above 45 degrees are usually only needed for acute exacerbations.

Does elevating the head of the bed affect pressure care?

Yes, sustained head elevation increases shear on the sacrum. For respiratory clients who are also at pressure injury risk, we combine head elevation with a matched pressure care mattress and a slight knee raise to counteract sliding down the bed.

Respiratory Solutions

Sustained head-of-bed elevation for COPD, heart failure, sleep apnoea and oxygen-dependent clients.

What is respiratory, and why does bed choice matter?

Sleep equipment for respiratory conditions uses controlled head-of-bed elevation to improve airway patency and reduce the work of breathing. In Australia adjustable beds are commonly prescribed for COPD, heart failure, sleep apnoea and oxygen-dependent clients as a durable alternative to wedge pillows. Sleep Choice trials the setup in the client's home for 7 nights, confirming compatibility with any existing CPAP, BiPAP or oxygen concentrator equipment before purchase.

The clinical picture

Respiratory symptoms almost always worsen when the client lies flat. What starts as manageable breathlessness in the recliner becomes a wakeful, distressing night in the bedroom. The most common current fix, a stack of pillows or a wedge, shifts during the night and puts new pressure on the lower back. A powered adjustable bed removes that failure mode.

For families

If your family member has moved to sleeping in a recliner because the bed makes their breathing worse, an adjustable bed brings them back to the bedroom. The head raises to the same angle a recliner provides, but with proper mattress support, and holds that angle all night without slipping.

For clinicians and OTs

A starting elevation of 30 to 40 degrees suits most COPD and heart failure clients, with a small knee raise to prevent sacral sliding. Steeper angles are typically reserved for acute exacerbations. For clients on CPAP or home oxygen, we confirm socket location, cable routing and mask clearance before delivery, so the trial does not fail on setup.

What we look for when matching respiratory

These are the clinical signals our team weighs during the pre-trial planning call, before any equipment leaves the warehouse.

Required elevation angle

Starting incline (30 to 45 degrees) is set from the referring clinician's guidance and refined during the trial week.

CPAP, BiPAP or oxygen compatibility

Existing respiratory equipment is confirmed pre-delivery so cabling, sockets and mask clearance work with the new bed.

Combined pressure care risk

Sustained head elevation increases sacral shear, so pressure injury risk is assessed alongside the respiratory need.

Overnight symptom pattern

Clients who wake at 3am gasping need different positioning support to those who struggle only at settle time.

Bedroom environment

Room temperature, humidity and airflow all affect respiratory comfort and are discussed before setup.

Partner and carer setup

A partner in the same bed must not be forced to sleep at the same incline. Split configurations solve this.

Build a matched kit for this client

Select severity level

Moderate Risk

Mild breathlessness, needs elevated sleeping position

Medium Risk

COPD or respiratory condition requiring regular positional support

High Risk

Severe respiratory compromise, oxygen dependent, complex positioning needs

How the 7-night trial works for respiratory

A showroom cannot replicate a client's bedroom at 3am. Every trial below is delivered, set up and demonstrated in the client's own home by our team, then reviewed on day 7.

01
The pre-trial planning call confirms the client's respiratory diagnosis, current sleeping position, any CPAP, BiPAP or oxygen equipment in use, and the room the bed will go into. This determines the specific bed and any accessory positioning needed.
02
On delivery day the bed is installed, socket locations for oxygen or CPAP are confirmed, and the head elevation is set to the prescribed starting angle with the client present. We demonstrate small adjustments the client can make overnight without help.
03
For 7 nights the bed is used under real bedroom conditions with all existing respiratory equipment in place. Showroom demonstrations cannot replicate room humidity, mask fit at 3am, or the effect of a heater running in winter.
04
On day 7 we review with the client, family or OT. Elevation angle, mattress firmness and any pressure care surface are adjusted. If the setup is not right, we collect at no cost and no invoice is issued.

12+

Years serving Victorian families

2,400+

7-night trials completed at home

180+

OT and allied-health referrers

Case study — COPD with CPAP, sustained elevation

Presenting: Client in their 70s with moderate COPD, on nocturnal CPAP, waking short of breath when pillows slid overnight. Family concerned about aspiration risk during reflux episodes.
Trial setup: 7-night trial of an electric profiling bed programmed to hold 30-45 degrees head elevation, paired with a CPAP-compatible pressure-relieving mattress and cable management for the hose.
Day-7 outcome: Client held elevation reliably through the night, reported easier breathing on waking, and CPAP mask leaks reduced. Overnight cough episodes dropped notably by day 6.
Funding: Supported through DVA prescription for a Gold Card holder.

Anonymised composite based on typical Sleep Choice trial outcomes. No individual client is identified.

“Sustained 35 degrees of head elevation overnight, without pillow slide, made a measurable difference to his SpO2 readings and cut his overnight cough. His CPAP compliance improved the same week.”

Respiratory nurse, community outreach team

Funding pathways for respiratory

Sleep Choice provides the trial report, product specification pack and OT-ready clinical notes required for each scheme. See our full funding options guide for eligibility and step-by-step process.

NDIS

Adjustable beds prescribed for respiratory positioning are recognised assistive technology under NDIS Capital Supports. We provide the AT assessment inputs and trial report.

See NDIS pathway

HCP

Home Care Package funds cover positioning beds when clinically justified for respiratory conditions. We prepare the itemised quote and clinical rationale.

See HCP pathway

SAH

Respiratory positioning equipment is eligible under Support at Home AT-HM. We supply the AT-HM justification pack for the provider.

See SAH pathway

DVA

DVA Gold Card holders with a documented respiratory condition can access adjustable beds through the RAP program on clinical prescription.

Related clinical resources

Pressure care

Sustained head elevation increases sacral shear, so respiratory clients often need a matched pressure care surface.

Pain and chronic conditions

Many respiratory clients also manage chronic pain, and the same adjustable bed can address both needs.

How our 7-night trial works

Full process, delivery timelines and what to expect on day 1 and day 7.

Respiratory frequently asked questions

Yes. Elevating the head of the bed 30 to 45 degrees improves airway patency, reduces the work of breathing, and can significantly ease symptoms for clients with COPD, heart failure, sleep apnoea and other respiratory conditions. Wedge pillows are a temporary fix, an adjustable bed provides sustained, comfortable positioning through the night.

Ready to trial the right setup for your client?

We deliver, install and demonstrate the bed and mattress in the client's own bedroom for 7 nights. If it is not right, we collect it at no cost and no invoice is issued.

Book a 7-night trial Talk to our team