Best placement would be to have each bed against a wall so it will be good for the staff to move around as you have noted.

Staff cannot get all the way around the beds if it’s up against the wall.

You’re trying to fit too much in the room given your parameters. Obviously bunk beds are out lol,. What is that structure under the window? A heater? If so you can’t block that. Maybe push the beds together and place them on the wall opposite the door?

Or a king bed on that wall. It’s the same size as 2 twins

Last resort your parents each have their own bedroom.

There is no way to fit two twin XL beds in this space and still be able to move all the way around them, let alone have enough room for future wheelchair needs.

The only option to fit two beds and allow room to navigate equipment somewhat is to place the headboards on the back window wall. The beds have to be essentially against each side wall- you could leave a few inches for bedding to freely hang. This would allow enough room to maneuver a wheelchair in, but not fully turn, as that requires 60" of space. Any other configurations (L-shape or placed on the 13'6" wall) block access to the bathroom or obstruct one of the beds.

I think if wheelchairs become a need, separate rooms will be best.

Depending on the actual bed frame and mattress, it might be very easy to move or not!

I have adjustable Twin XLs in both my guest bedrooms. One set has a cheaper/lighter frame and is very easy to move. The other set has a more expensive and heavier frame, and is quite a bit harder to move, but I'm small and can still manage to shift them with a bit of effort.

What is the flooring? You can place sliders under the bed legs to make them easy to move.

The distance that you will have to place the beds from the wall will mostly depend on how small/big the staff that will need access are.

Also the trick to putting the fitted sheet on an adjustable bed that is against a wall, or against another adjustable bed, is to raise the head end and put the sheet on, then lower the bed and pull down to put sheet on the rest of the bed. Raising the head end brings it closer, so a person isn't having to reach all the way down to that "back" corner. My 88 and 89 year old parents manage to make their split king with that trick, with no problems.

I'm pretty sure you can find a king-sized bed that is differentially adjustable on either side --- as in one side can be flat and the other in sit-up position. That might be your best bet, as I doubt you'll be able to have room for a walker between the beds.

Sigrid, that is just two twin XL beds pushed together and called a split king!

That is the reason I used them in my guest bedroom. I can separate for singles or push together for couples. I have twin sheets and king sheets for the different uses. Another positive is that they are so much easier to move to another home, compared to a single king frame or mattress.

When DH's parents moved into the small assisted living apartment, they each had a separate bedroom. Worked well for them....different sleep patterns, different levels of assistance, etc. They were not opposed to that arrangement. Each also had a small desk for their computer.

My mom was in a home for a number of years (bed centered in room), but only until her needs grew did full access around her bed become important as sometimes two aides were needed. Have you asked for their advice/how other rooms with two beds have been configured?

Wonder if each bed could face into room, with your mom’s on right wall placed nearer to the window. There would be room for a side table and her wheelchair to be nearby. Your dad’s bed would be placed closer to entrance with a side table on window side. You may want to try and test to scale on graph paper. Do they need the XL length.

Until they need more access, if space allows.

Good luck finding fitted sheets for some of those more unusual bed sizes in that table above!

Amazon carries

A few options I see:

The plan posted shows an off-center window, so beds against that wall will be centered on window or wall but not both. I've assumed that the object shown under the window is an HVAC unit and that it could have an open-front table placed over it, just not anything closed/solid. Walkways, are tight in some of these plans.

The other option, of course, is separate bedrooms:

IMO the layout with each bed against the wall on the 13' side by the windows makes the most sense untill such time as access is needed on both sides of the beds then IMO 2 seperate spaces for sleeping If the beds are moveable easily then tey can stay there for a long time , lots of room for wheelchair turnaround too. The off center window just do wall to wall drapes that open nicely for air

From hands ON experience? Do this and be prepared they will not share the same bedroom.: )

You have to allow for bath access in the middle of the night......and a whole lot else.

Staff is pressed for time, there could be sheet changes in the night, bleeds etc, Depends who is more compromised and in what ways?

Don't clutter, leave room to move...and be prepared for an eventual NON share.

Thanks for all the suggestions! Neither needs extra length, so maybe I will get them twin beds. And we are rethinking putting them in the same room. The thinking was that if one of them neeed help,at night, the other would wake up easily.

Yes, give them their own bedroom and bath. Different health issues need different care, particularly at night. Mom is not well...let Dad sleep. I would make their living room their together room. Following guidelines, you can make the living room their special space and make it their home away from home.

As an aside, from a sad experience, both still value their privacy when it comes to bathing, bathroom issues, etc. Give it to them. Pride is still a priority.

^^^

Adding to my post above? Post the floor plan in entirety, and I will, (along with others I am certain), give you a plan that ensures attractive, but very safe and comfortable furniture arrangements, all of the space.

I have lived this scenario as noted above and literally lost COUNT of the number of folks I have transitioned from one space to another until the last resting place,,,,,,,,to include some luxury hospice suites. There is no one size fits all, and ALL will bed deemed inadequate in some regard.

Safe movement, clutter elimination, are key. In the end, no matter what dear ones may want, no matter what they may believe they absolutely need,............... you are in charge along with their facility, in ensuring safety first ! . I will stop there., before the sentimental among us post......?

You use the WALLS for "sentiment" : ) Full stop lol

Thank you so very much everyone for your thoughts! They will be in separate rooms. Staff checks on residents several times a night, so we feel good about that. I am getting full size adjustable beds and they should be able to fit some of the furniture from their current apartment into the new one.

To be clear, they are not bringing much stuff or clothing with them, and just bare bones furniture, so plenty of space and no clutter.

Hello - Ms or Mr Shady Willow Farm - You are such a good daughter or son for arranging all this so carefully and thoughtfully for your parents, you will be blesses!. And please discuss all this with your children ( if you have any) so they know what you are dpoing and all the steps involved. It will not only be a learning process for them, but also an example of how to treat one's elderly parents with care, love and respect.

Mr or Ms Shady Willow Farm- Please excuse me for asking, but I don't understand this- your parents, and/or you are paying a king's ransom for a two bedroom mini-apartment in an assisted living facility. Why are you having them sleep in the same bedroom? If that is your plan, why didn't you just get a large one bedroom apartment?

You said that "if one of them neeed help,at night, the other would wake up easily. " You don't know that to be true. When people get older their sleep patterns change, they may sleep more soundly or even develop sleep apnea. You are also putting pressure and respnsibility on them to be lookouts and guards for each other in their aged and infirm condition. No one takes call every night. Yet you are expecting them to take call for each other every night in their old age? If they are that much at risk for example, of falling or sudden dangerous pain, etc, they can obtain and wear one of those Alert necklaces ( Smart SOS/Panic Necklaces ), if they have cardiac issues, they can use Kardia and based on the reading they can have staff take them to the emergency department or call their private cardiologist who will always have someone on call. Those rooms are really not large enought for two separate beds as well as dressers, chairs, wheelchairs, rollators etc, and it creates a tripping hazard. A different facility with a much larger single bedroom would have been a better choice if you expected them to share a bedroom.

Even though theoretically the facility is supposed to do everyone's laundary separately, who knows? I would get fabric name tapes with their names printed on, and sew the name tapes onto their clothing and bed linens and towels. It doesn't take long, or if you are really busy, bring everything to the dry cleaner for him to do it. It doesn't take but 5 seconds with a sewing machine. You can order the name labels on line. Don't get the iron-on type, they always fall off!

Haberdashery Online-Sewing Labels- 100 labels for $13.50 - 100 Pack Customizable Cotton Sewing Labels for Kids' Clothing - Safe for Tender Skin

For now, let's assume they will have separate bedrooms.

You want bedbug proof mattress covers, and on top of that you want zip on plastic waterproof covers, they can have accidents. Get the bed bug proof pillow covers too.

Firstly you won't have any problem finding sheets in the twin XL, that is the size bed every university uses in the dormitory! That is what is in my daughter's dormitory. That size bed is not a bad idea because one has the pillow taking up space and one sleeps with the head at the bottom of the pillow, losing at least a foot to 18 inches from the length of the bed. And with Amazon, anything can be ordered. You might want to check with the facility, somethimes the facility will provide the linens, and the facility might not provide that size.

Another thing to think about is a pull out trundle. I had that kind of bed when I was a child. It was just great. It was very comfortable, and the pull out was on wheels, and then popped up so it was the same height as my bed. The advantage of this for your parents is in case they want to sleep together sometimes, or if you want to sleep over with them (if G-d forbid they are not well), or if you need to hire a special one-on-one helper for them that you privately pay for.

These trundle beds (for adults) can have metal frames or wood frames and the legs can be on wheels. Some of them have one length built up so when you add large cushions they function like a day bed. Mine wasn't like that. My bed was against the wall, and my mother had gigantic very , very firm rectangular cushions made, each one half the length of the bed, so it functioned just like a day bed, and my friends and I sat on that as if it was a sofa. You can do that with your parents. Either:

1. Get just the bed and have the huge cushions made, or

2. Get the bed with the daybed frame, or

3. Use a curtain rod or some type of hardware and attach it to the wall and attach velcro loops to the tops of the huge cushions so the cushions hang from the wall. The curtain rod can be attached to the wall with the appropriate command hook. Command hooks can support 50 lb paintings, so they certainly can support a pillow. Then your parents can either remove the large pillows at night, or slightly move the bed away from the wall with the pillows when it is bedtime, or just leave then there. Really, the large pillows do act as a safety feature preventing the elderly from falling out of bed on that side of the bed.

There is no reason the bed can't be against the wall if that is more convenient for your parents. If the bed is on wheels, the staff can easily move it to make the bed and change the linens. Never mind about the staff wanting to walk around the bed, that is nonsense! If the bed has wheels, they can pull the bed out. If the staff can move patients (that can weigh up to 200 lbs or more!) they can certainly slide a bed on wheels away from a wall to make the bed or change the bed linens! Hot tip! Be polite and charming, you and your parents, and staff will usually be most helpful. Learn everyone's names and tell your parents to as well. Even if you need to make a memory aid for your parents- e.g. Front desk: Suzy, morning shift, brown hair, blue eyes, heavy set, Boston accent.

If you are not going to do a daybed with cushions and either one of them like to sit up in bed and read or watch TV, why not get them a special cushion for sitting up in bed. My mother got me one when I was in college, and I got one for my daighter when she was in college. It was called "The Husband Cushion." I might have another name nowadays. It is a huge cushion with arm rests and sometimes an additional cushion at the head or neck. Bed Bath and Beyond used to sell it. Walmart sometimes has it, but it is a thin version. Amazon has some nice ones. Measure from when they are seated, from the bottom of their bum to the top of their head. Get the tallest one based on that measurement and one that is also very thick, and with a removeable cover so it can be washed.

Since your parents will have separate rooms (and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that), have you considered getting them full beds? A regular twin bed is 38" x 75" and a full or double bed is 54" x 75". An XL twin is 38" x 80", and a full XL or double XL is 54" x 80".

If you get the full (also called the double) you might not need the double, because if one sleeps alone in it, one may end up sleeping in it on the diagonal, thus avoiding the need for a longer mattress. However, if your father is over 6 feet in height, I do understand that he might want an XL mattress ab initio.

Another advantage of the full (double bed) is that it can accommodate two adults, in case they do ever want to sleep together, either for the night or for a nap. I don't know about your parents, but my parents (RIP) shared a double bed their entire marriage and they were not small people in any dimension.

If you like the double bed idea and you like the trundle bed idea, you can get a trundle bed with the main bed being a double bed and the auxiliary bed being a twin!

While of course you would want to purchase new mattresses for each of them, vintage and second hand furniture stores are chock full of bedroom furniture sets from yesteryear with bedframes from double beds that are selling for a song because they are traditional dark mahogany or cherry finish furniture that most young people don't care for these days, but that your parents might just love. You could get them the beds and a dresser and a mirror and a nightstand or just the bed, whatever they like, and decorate the room so that it feels familiar and homey.

I visited a relative in an assisted living facility and as I walked down the hall, one resident had her door open and her room was so beautifully decorated, it just knocked my socks off! She had traditional furniture, I couldn't tell if it was mahogany or cherry, a beautiful bedspread, lamps as well as the provided overhead light, a beautiful recliner, a writing desk, lovely paintings, plants, etc. I didn't see every detail because I couldn't very well stand there and gawk, but suffice it to say, it was as lovely as if it was in someone's well-appointed home.

You might want to get for each bedroom a small table for writing where they can do paper work or play cards. If they play cardsor bridge or Mah Johng or anything with more than 1 person at a time, they need a square table, and a set of folding chairs would be good. They sell some great sets with a table and 4 chairs that fold up into the table. Amazon and Wayfair both sell them. You can have that in the living room too, but if one spouse is watching TV in there, they might not like 4 laughing people playing cards or having a book club.

You haven't asked, but I would suggest a recliner for each parent. Although a chair and an ottoman might look nicer, as years go by, ones hips deteriorate and lifting the legs to the top of the ottoman become difficult, and a footstool may not be the right height. A recliner solves these problems. There are so many different models, and the right model with the right fabric does look lovely and not low-rent at all. If at all possible, please purchase one from a brick and mortar store that they can sit in and practice getting in and out of several times. if you get fabric, please get performance fabric, or a faux leather, or something that doesn't stain easily.

In addition to a bedside table with drawers, you might think about what is called a C-table, or in the hospital is called a Mayo Stand. The C table can have a round or rectangular top and has a base and vertical legs on one side. The very convenient ones are height adjustable and have wheels, like the Mayo stands, please google "Mayo Stand. " The advantage of this is, it can be moved anywhere to be used when someone is in bed, sitting on a chair, even moved to the bathroom. A good one for your parents will have a larger rectangular table surface so it can be used for writing, holding a tablet or laptop, or a meal tray or a game board or puzzle.

Some of the C table tops can even be tilted and have a raised ledge on the bottom which is convenient for holding books.

I would get a bedside lamp that has two bulbs so that brightness can be adjusted. Think about modifying the lamp so it can be controlled with a cord with a switch so when in bed the cord can be velcro'd to the bed frame or headboard so your parent doesn't have to reach out to turn on or off the lamp which requires shoulder flexibility and roange of motion he/she may no longer have. Also think about getting a lamp with AC sockets and two USB C ports and a dedicated transparent zip pouch for charger cords and blocks to be kept in the top drawer of the nightstand.

Will you get them a television for their bedrooms? Think about where the TV will be placed based on where the cable hook up in the room is. That doesn't necessarily limit you, you can always get more cable attached from the cable company for limited cost. What is important is that your parent can see the TV from their chair and from their bed. Even if they will usually watch from the recliner, they may want to watch as they fall asleep (especially as they age) and if they fall ill (G-d forbid) they may want to watch from the bed. And of course, you may want one in the living room. You can get decent TV's at Costco for less than $400.

You do want to get mini-refrigerators for them, the type college kids have. I would get the largest one that can fit comfortably in the room. The very small ones can't fit hardly anything!

I like the ones that go up to your waist, and you can get them some mini ice trays. If there are special drinks they like, you buy a stock and figure out what type of holder works whether for cans or 1 liter bottles or 2 liter bottles. There are all types of holders and creative storage available on Amazon, Daiso, Dollar Tree, and check out some YouTubers for ideas. (For example, I am addicted to Walmart's Diet Lime flavored sparkling water and Canada Dry Diet Ginger Ale, and I NEVER drink plain water, except for the water that goes in my coffee or tea.)

Most important- No throw rugs anywhere, they are huge trip hazards and a hip fracture in the making.

Besides the recliner that hey will use, I would also get another chair, a straight back chair for when someone visits them, for example you, or when they visit each other, or another resident. Of course there is a large lunge in the facility, but people visit in the rooms as well, especially if someone is not feeling well. You could probably get some great buys of wood framed chairs with arms (easy to get in and out of) at garage sales and just replace the cushions. (I am assuming the facility doesn't provide any furniture.)

If and when you purchase a wheelchair for your mother, please get one that is as light weight and easily foldable as possible. I know someone with a titanium wheelchair, and it is just fantastic, strong, easily manipulable, and easily opened and closed, even by the paraplegic. woman. I would also get them both those long graspers, the type you use to get cans of shelves. They can use them to get things out of the closet off of the shelf. A step-ladder with handle bars is a good idea, also a shower chair.

I am going to stop here, or I will go on forever.

Google "how to set up a room in assisted living" you will find a lot, and lots of chat rooms.

Good luck and bless you for looking after your parents!

Yeah, apparently you will go on forever about something you know nothing about. My parents are in a fantastic retirement community that they picked out and saved for decades ago. They both have dementia/Alzheimers and can barely read and cannot use medical alert pendants. If something happens to one of them, the other goes out into the hallway and hollers Help. We are trying to figure out the best situation for them wrt bedrooms and furniture. They have been is separate bedrooms for over a decade although they never told us why. They are happily married and really look out for each other. They are well funded to live comfortably and safely, and the facility has been wonderful to work with through a couple injuries and illnesses. If it costs a kings ransom, that’s no ones business but theirs. They are getting the best that we can provide for them.

^^^^

No contributor knows a single thing beyond what you inform

Don't bite off the heads of those who are simply trying to help. The post above may have been verbose, but many of the tips were valid.

Fact is......most assisted living in tiered facilities, over time and due to longer lives, became filled with residents far more suited to a dedicated Memory Care facility. Many times , these are separated from assisted living/independent on the same campus,, or just totally a new build dedicated to this all too common condition. Particularly true in Florida is just this category, free standing business.

As I said earlier? Good luck to you, the parents, and feel fortunate they have the resources for good care and comfort. You are in a SMALL group of "very fortunate". .

We'd be curious as to WHY when they have "had separate bedrooms for over a decade".......you even posted the original question: )

I’ve mostly just been lurking here Shady and first wanna say that I’m learning and or trying to learn for when the day comes that I need to give such care as you are to my parents. I think I’ve read most of the post and had a thought for you. I did read that they have been in separate bedrooms for a long time and actually that really works for a lot of couples regardless of the reason. But perhaps you could put one in the bedroom there on the right like you were proposing and one in the living room? I know that leaves an entire bedroom on the left, but perhaps that could be their TV room and or just relaxation, or room for extra things that they’re going to bring with them that won’t fit in their bedrooms. Having a twin bed in the living room, might not be too bad and they would be closer together, but not in the same room. I’m not sure how much dining area they need outside of that Kitchen, but perhaps that could work? As long as there’s a pass-through, substantial, for their wheelchairs or whatever they need through there. That would most likely get perhaps your dad, if he’s in the living room closer to the bathroom in your mom’s room.