Overbed Tables: Meals, Reading and Medicines Within Reach

What an overbed table is

An overbed table is a flat tray or table on a base, designed to extend over the bed or a chair. The base usually straddles the bed legs or sits to one side with a long arm that reaches across. The top is adjustable in height and, in many models, it tilts, so a book or tablet can be read and a plate can be laid flat.

Types include:

• C-shaped or L-shaped base tables on wheels, with a vertical pillar and a top that extends over the bed. The base slides under the bed or beside it. They are the standard hospital type.
• Cantilever tables with the base on one side and the top overhanging. Good for chairs and beds.
• Adjustable-height, tilting-top tables. The top rises and falls with a lever or gas-spring, and the tray tilts for reading.
• Bed trays with legs. A tray with folding legs placed across the lap in bed. Light and portable, useful for a person who can sit up independently.
• Lap trays with a bean-bag base. For use on the knees in a chair or a bed, held steady by a cushion.
• Clamp-on or bed-attachment tables. Attach to a hospital bed frame or rail.
• Folding tables that stow away.

See also backrests for sitting up in bed, which pair well with a table to give a stable position for eating.

Who benefits

An overbed table helps people who:

• eat meals in bed or in a recliner;
• have trouble sitting at a dining table;
• read, write, use a tablet or phone, or do crafts in bed;
• need medicines, drinks, tissues and a call device within reach;
• are recovering at home after surgery or illness;
• are unable to leave their room for long periods;
• need a surface for care tasks, such as washing, shaving or oral care.

For people with a weak grip, tremor or poor eyesight, a table that holds items steady reduces spills and frustration. See eating with tremor or weak grip and easy grip cutlery guide.

Choosing a table: the key features

Height range. The table must go low enough to slide over the bed at the right height and high enough to be at chest height when the person sits up. A typical adjustable range is about 65 to 100 cm, but check against your bed and chair. The bed height varies, especially with a hospital bed; see hospital bed buying guide. If the bed is lowered to its minimum, will the table still fit over it? Measure the clearance beneath the bed and from the floor to the top of the mattress, and also the bed frame width.

Base shape and clearance. The base must pass beside or under the bed without hitting the legs or wheels. Check the height and width of the base feet against the space under the bed. A base that is too tall cannot slide under a low bed. With a wheeled bed, the table may clash with bed brakes.

Top size and tilt. A top of about 60 by 40 cm suits a meal tray. A tilting surface helps with reading and writing. A raised lip on the edge keeps items from sliding off. Some have a second small tray or a storage section for cups and glasses.

Stability. The table should not rock or tip when someone leans on it or places a hot drink. Wide bases and locking wheels help. Test by pressing gently on the far corner.

Wheels and brakes. Smooth castors let the table be moved easily, and brakes keep it still while in use. Wheels on a slippery floor can slip, so check the grip. Locking wheels are important when the table is used to support a person standing up, though a table is not a support for that purpose.

Material. A top of laminated board, plastic or bamboo that wipes clean is better than raw wood. Metal bases should be rust-proof, as humidity and cleaning can corrode steel. Rounded edges protect against bruises.

Weight and handling. A lightweight table is easy to move, but too light may tip. Check that the carer can lift the table off the bed and move it easily.

Adjustment mechanism. A gas-spring lever or a clamp should be easy to use with one hand and stay secure. Check that it does not drop suddenly.

Stowing. Can it be stored behind a door or folded? In a small room, a folding table helps; see small room bed layouts.

Cleanliness. Smooth, sealed surfaces without crevices are easy to wipe.

Safe use for meals

• Sit as upright as possible for eating and drinking, with support. This reduces the risk of choking, particularly for those with swallowing problems. Follow a speech therapist's advice; see swallowing problems and dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia prevention.
• Set the table height so that the tray is at about elbow height when seated, which lets the person see the food and reach without leaning.
• Do not put very hot drinks on a table near a person with tremor or confusion. Use lidded cups with handles, and half-fill.
• Use non-slip mats or a damp cloth under plates and cups; see easy grip cutlery guide for aids to eating.
• Avoid dragging the table while a person is eating.
• Stay within earshot if the person has a risk of choking.
• Clear the table after meals, wipe it and put things away.
• Keep the table out of the way of care. Before moving the person, remove the table; see bed transfer techniques.

Medicines, reading and daily items

A table is a good place to keep daily items but should not become cluttered.

• Medicines. Keep the day's tablets in a labelled pill organiser, and the rest out of reach or locked, particularly with confusion or dementia; see dementia and medicines at home and giving medicines safely at home. Never leave strong medicines unattended.
• Water and a cup with a lid or a straw. Place it where it will not be knocked over.
• Spectacles, reading lamp and clock. See magnifier lamp guide and reading lamp and lighting for older eyes.
• Phone or tablet on a stand or holder, within reach.
• Call device, such as a bell or pendant; see bedside essentials checklist.
• Tissues, wipes and hand sanitiser.
• Hobbies: puzzle, newspaper, prayer beads, writing pad.

Keep the weight on the table low. Do not use it as a shelf for heavy items such as full water jugs.

Placing and moving it

• Put the table on the side where the person's stronger hand is, so they can reach with ease.
• Roll it gently, avoiding knocking the patient's limbs.
• Lock the wheels when in use.
• Ensure cables from lamps, phone chargers or oxygen equipment do not tangle with the table's wheels.
• Remove it when the bed is moved or the backrest is lowered, as items can fall.
• Never let a person lean heavily or use the table as a support to stand. It may tip.
• Check that it does not trap the person against the bed in an emergency.

Cleaning and hygiene

• Wipe the top after each meal with warm soapy water or a suitable cleaning wipe, and dry.
• Disinfect weekly, or more often in illness; see infection control for home caregivers.
• Clean the wheels and base, as dirt collects.
• Check for loose parts and rust.
• Do not store food on the table; keep it hygienic.
• Cover the table surface with a washable cloth if desired.

Common mistakes

• Buying a table that is too tall to slide under a low bed.
• Using a heavy table that tips.
• Putting hot liquids on an unstable table.
• Leaving medicines in reach of a confused person.
• Letting the table crowd the bed so the person cannot get out.
• Forgetting to lock wheels.
• Using a table as a support for standing.
• Using a lap tray on a person with poor sitting balance.

When to ask a professional

A speech and language therapist or doctor can advise on safe positions for eating if your parent has swallowing difficulty or coughs while eating. An occupational therapist can assess reach, posture and adaptive equipment, and an occupational therapist or nurse can suggest the right setup for your parent's bed or chair. If your parent chokes, coughs after drinking, has a wet voice or loses weight, speak to a doctor.