Bed Falls And Senior Safety

Frequently believed to be without risk, Beds give cause for concern... Did you know that falls from bed are the second leading cause of fall deaths-after stairs and steps?*(http://nsc.org)

Little attention is given to this fall risk and few understand the risks. A lot of focus is given to using the toilet while the greater bed fall risk is unknown and unaddressed. The statistics may surprise you when it comes to the bed verses using the toilet. According to the *CDC difficulty performing activities of daily living among Medicare beneficiaries, ages 65+(2006 figures of Non-institutionalized beneficiaries)

Getting In/Out of Bed/Chair 11.9%
Using Toilet 4.8%

As you can see getting in and out of bed can be difficult for many over 65. To address the safety issues we first need to understand the risks and learn about bed falls.

Types of Bed Falls

Have you ever thought about bed falls, what a bed fall is or beds fall causes? Chances are you have heard "they fell out of bed" in reference to some who is elderly. Unfortunately the outcome is often a hip fracture requiring hospitalization with permanent mobility limitations. The causes can vary yet you can have the same outcome. Here are some examples:

1. A fall while transitioning from a sitting to a standing position from bed--is a bed fall. To avoid losing your balance or misjudging how far the floor is, make sure your feet are flat on the floor prior to standing. Walkers, canes or furniture are unstable and should not be used for balance while transitioning.

2. Rolling off the bed reaching for something bedside, such as a lamp, is a bed fall. Items must be close enough to avoid rolling off the bed while reaching. Fall prevention programs often recommend a bedside lamp but lack the knowledge to address the bed safety issue involving the action of reaching for the lamp.

Seniors aren't the only ones at risk. Caregivers need to recognize the dangers to those they care for and to avoid injury to themselves while caregiving. According to the statistics, bed falls are a serious threat. Most injuries happen due to a lack of appropriate information about the risks. Bed safety plays a role in Fall Prevention programs but is currently overlooked or unknown. Unfortunately, Fall Prevention programs don't address bed falls because EMS, healthcare professionals and other experts lack training and are not familiar with bed fall issues.

Too often when the bed is addressed the assistive aids used restrict freedom of movement and create other safety issues. Restricting freedom of movement is a safety issue along with the risk of entrapment from commonly used assistive aids. In 2006, the FDA published guidelines from the FDA Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup(HBSW). The guidelines address entrapment risks associated with bed accessories often used in the home and in fall prevention programs.

Prevention is about reducing risks so it is important that you don't reduce one risk and create another. This is often what happens due to not understanding how ineffective and/or unstable products create safety issues.

Don't wait for a fall to happen because one fall can change a life forever. It can also change an entire family forever. One thing we know is that falls can be prevented!

*Fall Statistic: National Safety Council (http://nsc.org) Guard Against Slips & Trips with this Fall Prevention Quiz"
*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. Health Data Interactive. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hdi.htm.