When you are at the age people in nursing homes typically are, a fall can be much more serious than it would have been when you were younger. Bones become more brittle with age and even a fall out of bed could result in a break. Bones also take longer to heal when we are older, prolonging the inconvenience and discomfort caused.
Nursing homes exist to provide care for people who can no longer live independently in safety. They must, therefore, consider the sorts of accidents that could occur to those in their care and take steps to prevent them. Here are three ways they might mitigate the chances of a bed fall occurring:
1. Using a bed with guard rails
Guard rails around a bed provide a fairly reliable solution to the issue of bed falls. The downside is that they can seem a bit undignified. Residents might feel reminded of when they were a baby and had to be contained in a walled cot. They can also make getting out of bed, say to go to the toilet, more difficult and some residents might get injured while trying to climb over them.
2. Using cushions to build a barrier
Placing big cushions around the edge of the bed at night may be enough to prevent the occupant from rolling out. It’s not as secure as a guardrail, but it can feel much more cozy.
3. Lowering the bed
A lower bed is another option. It won’t stop a fall, but it can reduce the consequences of one; especially if accompanied by soft matting around the bed. The downside is that some residents might find it more difficult to get into a lower bed and even though any fall would be less, it could still be damaging.
Not all nursing homes will take appropriate measures. If they don’t and it results in injury to a loved one, exploring your legal options may be necessary.