My father, 81, is in assisted living with 24 hour aids. He is also wheelchair bound. and in mid-stage Alzheimer's. My mother, 80, is in the same facility but in an Independent Living apartment.
His aids tell me he wakes several times each night, and they and my mother want him to have a hospital bed with rails. The AS facility will not allow removable bed rails.
Do you have any experience with this, and do you have any recommendations?
Thanks
See pdf:
https://www.fda.gov/downloads/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/GeneralHospitalDevicesandSupplies/HospitalBeds/ucm125857.pdf
Hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and home health agencies have to PROVE that side rails are "BENEFICIAL" for the patient/resident and prevention of falls is NOT a good reason to put side rails on a bed.
https://www.specialtymedicalsupply.com/medical-equipment/beds-and-accessories/homecare-and-hospital-beds/ (medical supply company that has LOW BEDs for patients/residents who climb or roll out of bed frequently).
A low bed or also called and “Alzheimer’s” bed has a lower bed deck for patients who are fall risks and falling out of bed could be dangerous. A low bed makes the fall a short trip. Adding a padded fall mat can also greatly reduce the amount of injury suffered by a patient. Low beds are exactly like full electric beds with the exception of the 9 ½“bed deck height, when a 6” mattress is added the lowest height from the floor is only 15 ½“versus the 15”-20” a standard bed, and will raise itself 5” to help the patient get out of bed with limited strain to their legs, hips and knees. “Alzheimer’s” beds are a great benefit for caregivers too, caregivers who have to lift a patient out of bed by either assisting a patient or using a patient lift have the added benefit of raising and lowering the bed without having to turn a crank to get the correct height.
I have fought this battle for over 20 years and the government will always win. Facilities that put bed rails on their beds are FINED and even CLOSED for violating federal regulations.
I am sorry that your FIL is have this problem. Maybe a LOW BED would be a better solution depending on the reason he is getting out of bed. If FIL has to go to bathroom several times during the night, maybe his medication needs to be changed or he needs to drink less water in the evening. Investigate the reason your FIL is getting out of bed so often during the night and see if you can find a solution by correcting or treating the reason FIL gets out of bed.
Thanks!