In New Hampshire, they can not use a hospital bed with full rails because that is considered a "restraint" and a violation of patient care in most facilities. My mom wanted a full rail but was told she could not have them. ;-( Putting one side next to wall is a good idea as long as bed does not move. Mattress on floor sounds good unless getting up and down is a problem. like the idea of mattress that slides under bed. Could that be used to cushion a tumble out of bed? Mattress on floor is better than broken hip or arm. Hope you find a good solution.
Olma - you've never seen even a gym-mat on the floor next to a bed? I think that's pretty common and pretty reasonable. Some folks don't sleep well, and particularly at night forget to ask for help to get out of bed, and unless you can get them a 24 hour sitter there is no reasonable way to supervise them enough to prevent a mishap.
It's really interesting that babies and toddlers are required to be contained in cribs and carseats, for their own safety, and parents/ daycare would be arrested if they did not prevent them from falling out of bed, or crawling around the car. But an incapacitated adult, oh no, we can't put them in a bed with bedrails, or a set belt on their chair, that's not right. There has to be a middle ground, some room for interpretation of the circumstances. Seniors who cannot walk, but forget they cannot, could cause themselves great harm or death if the caregivers don't prevent them from getting out of bed/ chair. Personally I think restraints are just fine. But because of misuse by a few unscrupulous carers, now the seniors that really really need them have to do without, or their carers go thru massive red tape to get simple bed rails or seat belt approved.
The problem with bed rails is they have been proven to do harm. People try to climb over, resulting in even worse falls or get limbs trapped between the rails resulting in broken bones.
For future readers of this old post: They have beds that are lower than the traditional hospital bed and still have side rails to protect the patient. I'm not sure where you're located but check to see if they have low hospital beds and the rails should be padded for protection against bruising and or/getting a leg/arm caught in the rails if the person is trying to climb over the rails or trying to get up and is confused they won't know the dangers. I had a patient that was in a room right across from the nursing station at the nursing home, fell out of bed and broke her hip. she died 3 weeks later due to complications of the hip fracture. They tried to cover up the fact that the nurse had left the rails down until I pushed for an answer not letting go then it was confessed. I'm a senior advocate, by trade and a care manager so I will not leave any stone unturned and will get to the bottom of any incident or injustice. Nursing homes must be closely monitored by family members, an advocate/care manager, etc. and the chart should be reviewed, not everything will be disclosed to family members and by the time red flags go up, it could be too late. I've been in healthcare 40 years so please trust that I know what I'm talking about. Dr. Sheila
Frankly, I've NEVER heard of this solution and I've worked in many nursing homes. I'm guessing they are understaffed and unable to monitor her properly. If she is able to fall or get out bed, she may be also be wandering. I'd look for another nursing home.
Someone reported this situation with my father being on the floor to APS, and I was informed, soon after their visit, that magically, the facility will be giving my father a hydrolic bed, even though they have been adamant all along that he must remain on the floor. Maybe APS had a different opinion about it. We won't know since we didn't file the report, but the timing is interesting.
Riley, you can contest POA in court. You can petition for guardianship which will cancel out all other POAs. This will force that guy to show up and put his own case together to contest it. He will need to prove that he's visiting and at care conferences, in contact with the facility, making care decisions, etc.
Take lots of pictures and document, document, document.
Putting one side next to wall is a good idea as long as bed does not move. Mattress on floor sounds good unless getting up and down is a problem. like the idea of mattress that slides under bed. Could that be used to cushion a tumble out of bed?
Mattress on floor is better than broken hip or arm.
Hope you find a good solution.
There has to be a middle ground, some room for interpretation of the circumstances. Seniors who cannot walk, but forget they cannot, could cause themselves great harm or death if the caregivers don't prevent them from getting out of bed/ chair. Personally I think restraints are just fine. But because of misuse by a few unscrupulous carers, now the seniors that really really need them have to do without, or their carers go thru massive red tape to get simple bed rails or seat belt approved.
They have beds that are lower than the traditional hospital bed and still have side rails to protect the patient. I'm not sure where you're located but check to see if they have low hospital beds and the rails should be padded for protection against bruising and or/getting a leg/arm caught in the rails if the person is trying to climb over the rails or trying to get up and is confused they won't know the dangers. I had a patient that was in a room right across from the nursing station at the nursing home, fell out of bed and broke her hip. she died 3 weeks later due to complications of the hip fracture. They tried to cover up the fact that the nurse had left the rails down until I pushed for an answer not letting go then it was confessed. I'm a senior advocate, by trade and a care manager so I will not leave any stone unturned and will get to the bottom of any incident or injustice. Nursing homes must be closely monitored by family members, an advocate/care manager, etc. and the chart should be reviewed, not everything will be disclosed to family members and by the time red flags go up, it could be too late. I've been in healthcare 40 years so please trust that I know what I'm talking about.
Dr. Sheila
I'm guessing they are understaffed and unable to monitor her properly.
If she is able to fall or get out bed, she may be also be wandering.
I'd look for another nursing home.
Take lots of pictures and document, document, document.
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