Medline Homecare Bed Safety Correction: What Owners Need to Know

Published October 20, 2026 · By the Medical Department Store Team

If you or a loved one sleeps in a Medline Basic or Medlite homecare bed, there is an important safety notice you should know about. Medline has issued a correction for several of its electric homecare beds, and the FDA has classified it as Class I, its most serious category.

The beds are not being pulled from homes. Instead, owners are being asked to follow new instructions, including keeping the bed unplugged from the wall unless it needs to be adjusted. Below, we explain what happened, how to check whether your bed is affected, what Medline recommends, and what your options are if you would rather not live with those restrictions.

What happened

Medline identified two separate safety risks with its homecare beds.

1. Fire and electrical risk (Medline Basic beds). The hand control pendant and its wiring can overheat. Customers have reported pendants burning, melting, sparking, smoking, causing electrical shock and catching fire. Overheating is more likely when the bed is used above its weight limit, when something blocks the bed's movement, or when a motor or part is jammed. As of December 18, 2025, Medline reported 12 injuries and one death linked to this issue.

2. Entrapment risk with non-Medline accessories (Basic and Medlite beds). Using side rails or accessories not made for these beds, or bumping the pendant by accident, can cause the bed to move and trap a person between the bed and the accessory. This can lead to serious injury or death, especially for people at home who are not monitored around the clock. Medline reported two injuries and one death linked to this issue.

Medline first notified customers on November 26, 2025. In August 2026, it expanded the notice to include replacement hand pendants and a manual Medlite bed.

Is my bed affected?

Check the label on your bed frame for the item number, then compare it to the list below.

Not sure which bed you have? Call us at 1-866-218-0902 and we will help you check.

What Medline and the FDA recommend

The FDA recommends keeping affected beds unplugged from the wall unless you need to adjust the bed. Medline also asks owners to:

• Never use the bed above its weight limit.
• Make sure nothing blocks the bed's movement and no parts are jammed.
• Hang the hand pendant on the headboard or footboard when not in use. Never leave it on the mattress, including while sleeping.
• Use only Medline side rails and accessories made for these beds. Do not use other brands' rails or accessories, or extension cords.
• Unplug the bed and call for service if the motor jams or stalls, the controls stop working, the pendant wiring is damaged, the pendant gets hot, or you see smoke or sparks.

For questions about the correction, contact Medline directly at 866-359-1704 or recalls@medline.com.

Your options

Following Medline's instructions is one way forward. But keeping a hospital bed unplugged, and limiting which rails you can use, is not practical for everyone, especially caregivers who adjust the bed many times a day.

If you would rather replace your bed, Medical Department Store has full-electric and semi-electric hospital beds from other trusted manufacturers in stock and ready for delivery now. Our team can help you:

• Compare beds and find the right fit for your needs and room
• Match compatible side rails, mattresses and accessories
• Arrange delivery and setup

Shop hospital beds and mattresses, call us at 1-866-218-0902, or visit one of our 6 Southwest Florida locations. With more than 40 years serving the community, we will make sure you get a bed you can use with confidence.

Visit or call a store near you

Toll-free orders and questions: 1-866-218-0902. See maps for all locations.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to stop using my Medline bed? No. This is a correction, not a removal. The FDA and Medline ask owners to follow the updated instructions above, including keeping the bed unplugged when not adjusting it.

Is Medline replacing affected beds? The notice does not offer replacement beds. It updates the instructions for use. Contact Medline at 866-359-1704 for questions about your specific bed.

My bed is a different brand. Is it affected? This notice covers only the Medline and Medlite models listed above.

Can I use any side rail on my Medline bed? No. Medline says to use only its own compatible rails: MDS89697, MDS89698N, MDS89694N and MDS89695N.

Sources

• FDA: Electronic Homecare Bed Correction, Medline Updates Use Instructions for Homecare Beds
• FDA Recall Database: Z-1013-2026
• FDA Recall Database: Z-3227-2026 (hand pendants)
• FDA Recall Database: Z-3228-2026 (Medlite manual bed)

This article is for general information and reflects the FDA notices as of October 2026. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and contact Medline with questions about your specific bed.