How to handle Mom falling out of bed in memory care facility?
I visited my mom today, and one of the caregivers told me my mom had fallen out of her bed last night. They said she was crawling on the floor asking for help. They looked her over and do not think she has sustained any injury from the fall and has no bruises. This person said it was the second time.
I am not her POA, so nobody informed me when it happened. I just happened to arrive there and this individual told me. UGH!
My mom has extremely limited mobility and gets around by shuffling her feet in her wheelchair. She is very weak. She has however gotten herself to the toilet and to bed on her own successfully. I do not believe she actually "should" be attempting any of these things on her own, but am unsure how anyone can monitor a resident 24/7.
I think that first, mom needs a lower bed and a padding next to the bed to absorb any future falls. Her bed is tucked into a corner with only one open side.
How would you handle this? What are the best practices in this situation? Is the staff missing anything in her care?
Thank you.
16 Answers
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Here is an example of what I'm talking about on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-Universal-Mattress-Perimeter/dp/B00V86G39C
Good luck to you.
Each time I visit my mom, I see something different to feel appalled by. You offer good suggestions that 'should' be simple to address. Thanks.
You could also try a wedge that can be placed under the sheet that may prevent her from "falling out of bed" Even a "pool noodle might be enough to prevent the roll.
I am wondering how exactly is she falling out of bed.
Is it that she is trying to stand and get out of bed and that she falls?
Is it that she is rolling out of bed much like a child does when they transition from a crib to a regular bed. And no rails to prevent the rolling.
Rails are not permitted as they are considered a restraint.
It is possible that a large wedge may also be considered a restraint.
Do have them order a Hospital Bed it will make things easier
Bed rails are no longer used in most states as they caused death from choking.
(Roll into bedrail and unable to move and asphyxiate.)
Mom would fall out of bed, so fall mats were placed on the floor. Mom would scrap her legs on the hospital bed while trying to get out of bed, the mats helped her from getting major injury. Then the Staff tried placing pillow around her but then Mom was unable to turn over, and that caused her back to hurt. If only hospital beds were wider to help with that situation.
When out of her room and in a wheelchair, placed near the nursing station, Mom would try to stand up, thus falling. Or bend down to pick a piece of lint off the carpet, and tumble out of the wheelchair.
The Staff tried a "seat-belt" but Mom was the master at unbuckling that seat-belt (she would do that all the time in the car for years on end when she didn't have dementia). Next step was placing a pillow under her legs, so that kept her busy trying to pull out that pillow. Finally a reclining wheelchair was used, again with the pillow under her knees. That lessen the falls.
I hope this helps.
Laurie
I have requested a hospital bed, lower to the ground, that is also waterproof. I think I will try also getting a sleeping wedge or swimming noodle that you have mentioned and putting that on the open side of mom's bed. I do not believe she has the strength to get over one of those.
It appears mom tried to get herself out of bed in the middle of the night. I assume she had to go to the bathroom or just wanted to get out of bed and thinks she can still manage on her own. The facility does have her room equipped with a "fall monitor", but I think it only activates if someone is standing up and abruptly falls. I thought the device would send some warning about such an event, but I guess not. Sigh.
Anyway, thank you for the helpful advice.
My mom's facility recommended and we purchased a 2 piece alarm set, one goes on chair and other on bed. This brand has singular items like bed pad alarm. It comes with a mobile alarm that can be carried and monitored by staff. It may prevent falls or at minimum get staff to her sooner when she's out of bed. That way they can get to her quickly and she doesn't have to rely on a pendant or requesting help. My mom also thinks she's still quite capable of walking and going from room to room by herself. I'm pasting the link to the one we purchased on Amazon that was recommended by the Director of Nursing. Best wishes to you and your Mom as you navigate this stage of life.
This full caregiver set with wireless sensor pads and pager alerts you before your loved one gets up, preventing falls. Check it out now!
https://a.co/d/00PoN3Ys
The trouble is, she won't be able to get out of bed on her own and into her wheelchair. Unless she is able to use the bed hand controls, which is unlikely if she is in memory care. The staff will need to check on her more frequently, to help her out of bed and to the toilet. Talk with them about this. See if they can accommodate her with the bed lowered to the floor and a pad on the floor. They will have to raise the bed up and move the padding for her to access a wheelchair.
Years ago, when my husband was in a nursing home, he would intentionally roll out of his bed, even managing to get over the side rails, so they lowered his bed and placed a pad next to the bed. He was unable to sit up or stand, but once on the floor, he would scoot across the floor, trying to leave and get home.
The nursing home ended up kicking him out because they could not manage his behavior. I've been dealing with this squirrely one at home now for 10 years.
There are no easy answers.
First you get bright yellow slipper socks that indicate "fall risk." Then your bed gets an alarm. I was told if I needed to go the the bathroom, to BUZZ the desk, and just say "Bathroom." Someone would come within 2 minutes to escort me, wait outside the cracked bathroom door, let me finish and then return me safely to my bed. That's the hospital procedure, so don't MCs have call buttons?
Staff can't be criticized if Mom doesn't buzz/call for help. I know that bed alarm was pretty loud, and a nurse came flying in my room! I had sat up on the edge of the bed (at 3am) and wanted to fix my blanket! I had an IV on a stand I had to roll with me and back. By the second day, they all calmed down and saw I wasn't THAT helpless (or unsteady)!
Mom should be clearly told (repeatedly) to buzz for someone if she needs to pee. They are in 24 hour shifts and it would be no trouble at all.
The only way to watch all the patients from night falling is about 20 night vision cameras, with someone watching and scrolling through each monitor constantly to "catch" someone. So they use the common sense bed alarm. Mom needs the bed alarm for sure, since the second she gets her behind off the mattress, it goes off LOUD, like a fire alarm! It's really embarrassing, but totally effective.
It will be the last time Mom doesn't buzz the front desk for assistance. Once her bed is armed, she can't get out of it without waking the entire floor up!
The alarm that you mentioned is good if a facility will allow it.
Some facilities consider it a restraint if it attaches to the person and a wheelchair.
Some facilities do not like the use of alarms as it can be very disruptive if they begin going off at all times of night.
There are alarms that you place on the floor so that if someone tries to get out of bed and places feet on the mat the alarm will sound. Some alarms attach to the person and the equipment and if the connection is broken the alarm will sound.