My 89-year-old dad keeps falling out of bed when he tries to get up to go to the bathroom himself at a skilled nursing facility. The staff have put a bed alarm on him and do all they can to keep him safe, but he keeps falliing. He plans to move to a lower level of care in two weeks, but I don't think its possible because of the constant falls.
In defense of Ruth, I have to say that I see Ruth on here quite a bit giving genuine support and positive advice and she always seems to be upbeat, seems to love her work and I can almost hear a song in her voice. When I read her statement "not on MY watch" I thought she was saying it tongue in cheek and because I feel like I have gotten to know her personality here a little bit, I could hear her laughing as she typed it. I don't think she meant it the way you read it.
Oh my gosh.... I thought I was the only one shopping at the Goodwill!!! lol
Saying a prayer for a quiet, relaxing evening for all...... God Bless!!
I'm sure you were just joking with that statement, but for those of us who are mentally, physically and financially depleted, that sounded like you were saying that you are able to do something that we have failed to do adequately. That's hard to listen to. I am perhaps being a bit too touchy about it but chalk it up to sheer exhaustion and try to understand. Most of us are looking for support not judgement.
Jaccare, I hope you find the answers to your problems. Michfla317 sounds like we had the same idea. I have also rigged up a seat belt of sorts for the sofa. It is a fabric tie that my hubby used sort of like a bungie to hold boards together in his truck. I took the big buckle off and used one of my fabric belts with rings that the belt is threaded through and attached it to the fabric strap that I had attached to the back legs of the sofa and brought it up through the sofa. I can belt it aroung her so that she can sit up or lie down but not get up off the sofa. I also have taken a wireless door bell and put the push button on one of my grandkids wooden blocks and taped it down. If she needs me all she has to do is push the door bell and I'm right there. That gives me a chance to do dishes and laundry without worrying about her getting up and trying to follow me and then fall. I call it my Redneck Life Alert. Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.
With all due respect, Ruth, that was a very insensitive and self serving remark. No falling on MY watch? How long does your watch last? Do you just care for them at night then go home in the morning? Are you being paid to watch them? Most of us caregivers are 24 hrs a day 7 days a week with no breaks in between.
When my mother was under Hospice care and in a hospital bed, I had a very long mesh type fabric tie (12" x 12') that I used to tie across her waist area and completely around the bed - mattress and all. It was a very light fabric that I think was actually made to use in around the inside of a baby's crib to keep them from getting between the slats. I would tie it over the top sheet and then put the blanket over it so she wouldn't pay too much attention to it. It was on tight enough to keep her in place but loose enough that she could turn over. It seemed to do the trick as far as preventing her from trying to put her legs over the railings and climb out of bed - which she tried to do all the time.
I also researched a product that has been outlawed for use in nursing facilities (but I saw one for sale on ebay one time) that I thought would work pretty good. It was basically a shirt that would be put on backwards so they couldn't get to the buttons and it had ties extended from each side of the shirt that you could tie to the bed rails. It would work good to keep the person in the middle of the bed which was also a good thing because people have been hurt or killed falling down between the mattress and the railings. It seemed to me that it would be pretty easy to make one just by sewing some long ties on the sides of a shirt.
Maybe I'll patent my idea and make a million and we'll all go on a cruise!! :o)
Anybody with me??? lol
Hope things improve for you Jaccare.
We did find a solution to keep her from falling out of her wheelchair though. We ordered a tray that slid on to the arms of the wheelchair - pretty much like the ones on a baby's high chair. It also had velcro ties on each end that you connected behind the back of the wheelchair to keep her from pushing it off so she wasn't able to get out of the wheelchair without someone taking the tray off for her and helping her up.
To me that is the same as restraining her with a belt but the nursing home went along with it for some reason. It actually worked out pretty good because the tray also came in handy for keeping her water on so consequently she drank more liquids because it was right there in front of her all the time.
While we're on the subject, I should also mention that we purchased a Rock N Go wheelchair for her which is a very high back chair (kind of recliner chair size) that tilts back far enough that she couldn't get out of it without help. It was much more comfortable for her than a regular wheelchair but they wouldn't let us have it in the nursing facility (another crazy rule) but that's when I brought her home anyway. It really worked great but they're expensive ... about $1600. Also worked very good for keeping her legs elevated with the foot rests that come all the way up.
Good luck to everyone trying to figure all these crazy things out!!
You can find them for about $70 with the stabilizing bar. Used ones might6 be even less.
You might see some a lot more expensive, but the low end ones do the same job no matter what they tell you about being easier on the body, etc. I have used high and low end ones and they all seem the same to me.
Jaccare, since your dad is in a care facility, ask them to add a trampoline and offer their residents to sit on them and enjoy the benefits. But ask about it after you fortified yourself with information and can make your point. They just might find their residents improve mentally and physically. If they do it regularly - I guarantee it.
Sometimes inner ear problems make a person dizzy, other health issues might make falling more likely. But many times it is because the person falling has little balance because of inactivity. I suggest you look into the value of a Mini Trampoline. They come with a bar one can hold on to, but often, when a person is weak, even paraplegics can benefit when placed on the trampoline, sitting on it, while another person bounces up and down. What happens is that the whole lymphatic system gets activated and muscles, too. I have seen elderly people go from only being able to sit while a family member gently bounced up and down, to being able to stand on the trampoline and jump up and down. Notice - I wrote bounce - initially it is bouncing - feet not leaving the mat. Jumping is feet leaving the mat and there are variations from very gentle to major jumping.
One of the things with this exercise is that you only do it gently as if sitting on a chair. You do not exhaust yourself. But over time you can do more and more but still only do it as if sitting in a chair, never exhausted. You build up to more over time.
Using the mini-trampoline really is the best thing for old folks, young ones too.
Maybe you like to search on the internet for "lymphasizer" and lymphatic system because you might discover why and how to regain health.
It sounds like he gets dizzy or unstable when getting up from a chair or
bed. If he could remember to sit up for a few minutes before standing that might
help (IF he can remember to do so). Is he having to navigate around objects in his room? What kind of shoes is he wearing when he falls?
If he could not remember to use a urinal, perhaps a bedside commode chair would get his attention & keep him from trying to reach the bathroom.
For poorly lit or dark areas, there are nightlights that go on when motion is detected. We have them all around the room & in the hallway where our family member walks. (They work both day night.)
There are even special pads that can be put on people who are prone to falls.
The nursing home or a physical therapist should know about them or look at a website that specializes in products for elderly patients.
Annt has a good idea about soft restraints until someone can get to him.
He should not be having that many falls at a skilled facility. He can't be the only elder who has these issues. Speak with the director and ask what technology is available to reduce fall risk.
The only way to ensure that he never falls is to have a live-in caregiver, if you can find them. (I would suggest hiring 2 or three who can work in "shifts.") For what you are paying at his facility, he may be able to afford this option and it would be worth it for your peace of mind.
Good luck
I don't know how long this has been going on for sure. We discovered he was not taking care of himself and needed a high level of care several months ago and ever since he's lived near me he's fallen numerous times. I can't have him live with me because he has multiple health issues I can't competently deal with. In addition, I work and am raising a child, so that would be too hard.But, he's my dad and I want him safe...and I need peace of mind.
Is there padding on the floor, and no nearby nightstand or furniture he can hit? Is there a good night light so he can see to get out of bed?
Is his doctor aware of this problem? Did this start recently? Does your father have other sleep problems? For example, does he trash around, kick, or flail his arms?