LTC nurses--tell me about bed alarms...

[mustlovepoodles]

I am not asking for medical advice. I am a peds nurse with 34yrs experience, but this has me stumped--

My youngest DS15 is profoundly mentally handicapped, like a 1yo. He walks, but has no self-help skills and NO sense of danger. Lately he has taken a few falls--he is very off-balance due to seizure meds and low muscle tone. He has suffered a few head injuries and some broken bones falling down the stairs, so we accompany him now and we have put a gate over the basement stairs so he can't go down there, even if he lurched into the gate. We are also addressing the balance & walking issues in PT. We have a CNA who comes in every evening to feed & play with DS and bathe him, things that are harder for us. The CNA is with DS constantly, so DS never falls when the CNA is here.

Sometimes DS falls out of bed with a seizure. Putting bed rails on the bed backfired--in his confusion during a seizure he tries to escape and hit his head hard enough to cause a concussion. It has been suggested to us by authorities that we invest in door alarms or bed alarms (gotta love CPS--NOT) We are not too keen on door alarms because he opens and closes doors for entertainment but we might want to look into the bed alarms depending on how they work.

How loud are the alarms? Describe how the alarm goes off--is it short or is it loud? Once it is tripped, is it constant? I have no problem with having an alarm, but I don't want some ear-splitting noise that's going to wake everyone in the house. What I need is something that goes off briefly, just enough to get our attention.

Any suggestions?

[HollyHobby]

I'm not sure if any of these suggestions would apply in your case, but at one time I was caring for elderly folks in my home. Since they were prone to waking up at night and causing a ruckus, I had to have a way to ensure their safety.

Old Fella #1 was at risk for falling out of bed, so we used a bedrail. He was also liable to eat everything in the refrigerator- I mean everything because the part of his brain that regulated hunger did not work. He could literally eat to death, if allowed. So we installed a padlock on the refrigerator.

Old Fella #2 was also fairly demented and greatly overestimated his ability to do things. I attached a bell to his walker and I used a baby monitor (usefull for both Old Fellas) so when I heard them stirring around, I knew. I also used a motion sensor alarm, which I think in your case might be more effective/safer than the door lock. At night, I'd set the alarm so that if either Old Fella left the room, the alarm would sound. Once or twice the cat accidentally activated it, but otherwise it was incredibly valuable. It didn't cost much, either.

I think the trundle bed idea is a great one, especially since you're getting to the point where bending low is difficult.

I wish you the best; you have the most difficult job in the world. (((hugs)))

[Tarabara]

At my long term care facility for clinicals some patients who were a fall risk had mattresses that were higher on the sides and kinda dipped down in the middle, like this:

[morte, LPN, LVN]

At my long term care facility for clinicals some patients who were a fall risk had mattresses that were higher on the sides and kinda dipped down in the middle, like this:

yup, called a scoop mattress also.....though i think those have the side ridge all the way top to bottom.

"noodles" used to elevate the sides of soft overlays to replicate the same effect. http://www.allystoybox.com/2009/06/swim-noodle-bed-rail/

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I really appreciate the responses. I will discuss them with my DH. And thank you for your kind words. There are days when I need a word of support. I can be pretty hard on myself for not being everything to everyone. It actually helps when I see my situation through the eyes of others; it makes me realize that I *do* have a hard job and I am only human, so I need to lighten up on myself. :) Thanks for reminding me.

Cathy

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

all great suggestions on here. A few thoughts enter my own head:

1. DH and I have a video monitor that's aimed on our daughter. They make sorts, ours is just a black and white type that can show video in the dark - it has audio too, so you can turn off the video feed and turn it on only if you hear something is amiss. Saves you having to get out of bed because you heard a thump only to find that he simply kicked the wall in his sleep and allows you to get an idea of the situation you are heading to if there is an emergency at night.

2nd thought: If you are considering the hospital bed type route, i know that posey makes a tent looking thing

i've seen this in action in a SNF where i used to have to make visits and it looked like it worked really well. Doesn't constrict, but can't fall out of bed and lots of room to work.

I wish you all the best with your foot surgery. It sounds like you are doing a great job, Mom;)

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

all great suggestions on here. A few thoughts enter my own head:

1. DH and I have a video monitor that's aimed on our daughter. They make sorts, ours is just a black and white type that can show video in the dark - it has audio too, so you can turn off the video feed and turn it on only if you hear something is amiss. Saves you having to get out of bed because you heard a thump only to find that he simply kicked the wall in his sleep and allows you to get an idea of the situation you are heading to if there is an emergency at night.

2nd thought: If you are considering the hospital bed type route, i know that posey makes a tent looking thing

i've seen this in action in a SNF where i used to have to make visits and it looked like it worked really well. Doesn't constrict, but can't fall out of bed and lots of room to work.

I wish you all the best with your foot surgery. It sounds like you are doing a great job, Mom;)

Very cool looking bed! I take it that the screen lets down and secures with a zipper? I like the video idea, too. That would be easy to set up in my room. Thanks!

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

indeed that is how it works. I thought it was so interesting the first time i saw one. The patient seemed comfy, too!