Meri- Walkers

[Finallydidit]

P.T. has put a 98 yo Res in a Meri walker (a cage like chair made of PVC pipe and casters) and she can escape from it.... I have no doubt that this chair will be the death of this Res and I need to know what I can do to get them to take her out of it....... All I hear is that she does fine in it during the day, so they wont budge on taking it away from her..... Anyone have any stories that I can share with PT about their safty for the elderly that can and will escape them?

Thank you!

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Who died and left PT in charge? If you're so against a merry walker (we don't use them where I work) call the doc, explain why it's not working, and dc the thing.

[Finallydidit]

Yes it has been witnessed, and No we are not allowed to video, or take pix of residents, ( that was my first thought). However that being said, I sat down with the powers that be in PT, yesterday and we agreed to try a comprimise, first indication of her trying to get out that she will be tolited and offered the option of lying down, or getting back in the chair. If she choose the chair, the first indication of escaping we will place her in the w/c with the soft lapbelt. Tried this last evening, and she chose the merrywalker, about 15 minutes later I saw her quietly setting at the nurses station, biting her fingernails, with the strap on the outer side of her leg!! Gotta love her!.. Asked if she wanted to go to bed, she replied, Daddy will get ahold of my butt, if I go to bed here, there are boys here!......How can I argue with that, so in the w/c she went.......

[debRN0417]

Thoroughly document everything! Make sure it is on the care plan that she can get herself out of the thing. Let the physician know she can get out of it too. If she gets out and falls and breaks a hip or worse then you need to make sure you have documented that she can get out of it. Make sure you document that PT is aware that she is exiting the chair. If she is getting out of it, it is doing her no good, it is more of a danger than a benefit. Ask the doc for a medication re-evaluation to see if there is something that can help there. Make activities involved in giving her something diversional. Let the DON know that you are going to need someone to keep an eye on her if she is ambulatory and falling down...you don't want to restrain her but you need to do your best to keep her safe...geri chair or wheelchair with a table top with the activity board (may be a reatraint so make sure you look at it for assessment, care planning and informed consent)..sundowning is so challenging!