Getting A Bedside Rail For Fall Prevention?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 300,000 older adults suffer from broken hips each year. Hip fractures can end up being fatal, with thousands of people dying due to complications. It is very important to prevent falls among seniors since their bones are usually more brittle. One of the most common causes of fall is when seniors fall out of their beds. This could be due to either rolling too far during their sleep or getting up too quickly when they’re feeling disoriented. One of the ways to reduce the chances of falling from the bed is to install a bedside rail. Bedside rails can keep older people safe at night and reduce their worries of falling out of bed. If you have an older adult at home, you should consider getting a bedside rail for fall prevention.

Potential Benefits of Bedside Rails

Bedside rails have a variety of potential benefits. They provide a feeling of security and comfort as they reduce the chances of rolling off the bed. They’re also helpful as hand-holds when you want to reposition yourself while lying on the bed. The bedside rail also offers support when you’re getting into or out of the bed, and makes it easier for you to reach out for personal care items and bed controls without falling.

Potential Risks of Bedside Rails

Although bedside rails have their advantages, we should also be aware of the possible dangers they can pose to our loved ones. If the patient or parts of their bodies get caught between the bedside rails and the mattress, it can result in bodily injuries like bruises, cuts, and scrapes. Even worse, it can lead to strangulation, suffocation, and even death. If our loved ones do not take well to the presence of rails, they can become agitated at the sight of the rails and injure themselves by climbing over it, leading to a worse fall. Bedside rails might also make them feel restricted and isolated, causing them to become upset and depressed.

Understanding a Loved One’s Needs

Although it might be a difficult topic, it is important to talk to our loved ones and have their needs assessed before making any decisions about installing bedside rails. Patients with dementia might forget why rails are installed and become agitated and afraid at the sight of them. If they try to climb over the rail or squeeze themselves through one, it can lead to strangulation and falls. Thus, bedside rails might not be the right decision for every elderly person, as they can become a restraining device instead of a protective equipment.

If used properly, bedside rails can be very effective in preventing falls and injuries. When using bedside rails, you should lower the foot rail, which allows the patient to get off the bed to go to the toilet by themselves. This will also allow them to feel less restrained and afraid. You should also minimize the gaps between the side rails and the mattress and use a mattress with raised foam edges so there’s a lower risk of the patient being trapped and getting hurt.

If you’re looking for bedside rails to prevent falls in the bedrooms, we have full-length and half-length bedside rails at CWI Medical. Feel free to check out our catalog and contact us if you have any queries about our products.