Can a skilled nursing facility order a hospital bed for a patient that falls out of the bed?

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Sylvester Asked June 2024

Can a skilled nursing facility order a hospital bed for a patient that falls out of the bed?

My mom has had severe falls at the nursing home and they will not allow us to order a hospital bed to protect her. They did allow bumpers. However, the staff does not apply them properly at times and sometimes not at all. We visit often and have had to direct then to place the bumpers on the bed. My mom said one aid told her, "You don't need those bumpers," when in fact she does. We asked the care planning team about ordering another type bed and they said no.

Alzheimer's & Dementia Care Plan Home Safety Skilled Nursing Facility

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score 0 · Answer 1

Just my experience. No they said it would be restrictive and like being in jail.
I tried when my wife fell out of bed and broke her wrist.

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score 0 · Answer 2

In Florida the nursing homes have switched out to low beds that lower down to the floor.
Residents that are at risk of rolling out of bed get gym pads placed on the floor next to the bed that has been dropped to the floor.

Bedrails are typically no longer used in Florida nursing homes as more residents were dying from choking after rolling into the bedrails. Bedrails are considered restraints and CNA's must check the resident pretty frequently when used.

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score 0 · Answer 3

Sylvester: Speak to the ombudsman. A hospital bed isn't designed to keep your mother from falling out of it. It can be lowered.

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score 2 · Answer 4

No, normally facilities will not order the bed of your choice.
They may, in the case of severe skin breakdown, order special mattresses for protection of skin. That's about it.

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I came back from vacation and got the latest nursing home bill for my late husband. They were renting a special longer and wider adjustable bed for him. I said I'd prefer to buy it instead. They gave me a price. I asked if I could find one w/similar specs that was less expensive and have it delivered. I found one online and the Director of Nursing approved it. When it was time for me to do our income taxes, I asked for her an e-mail saying the bed was medically necessary so I could deduct it from our income taxes as a medical expense. He was private-pay, so we always got that deduction. She sent it promptly.

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score 1 · Answer 5

Talk to an ombudsman. What state and county is she in? Is she a permanent resident or there for rehab? Is it a county-run Medicaid facility? There is also such a thing as a concave mattress that makes her ability to get out or roll out of bed much more difficult.

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score 8 · Answer 6

A hospital bed will not prevent her from falling out of bed.
What the hospital bed can do is be lowered as low as possible so that when she does fall out of bed she is less likely to get hurt.
But a facility can NOT use the side rails on a hospital bed.
The facility can place another mattress next to her bed so that when she falls it will soften the fall.
they can use wedges or tubes to create a "cradle" to keep her centered on the mattress. But they can not be large enough that it would be considered a "restraint"

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I never knew about any of this until a week before my mother died. She was hallucinating and highly agitated and tried to get out of bed and fell. She had a compression fracture from this. Total mess.

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Can a skilled nursing facility order a hospital bed for a patient that falls out of the bed?

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