Meri- Walkers

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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!

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A resident can still tip it over. And if the harness is too loose they can fall out of it.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I hate the things myself. I've seen too many negative outcomes from merri walkers. I had a resident cause severe bruising of the testicles because he would sit on the strap intentionally. These things are just rolling death traps.

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Specializes in LTC, drug and alcohol rehab.

We had an MR whose gait was unsteady, she was put in a meriwalker and she would purposly sit in the floor trying to get out of it and many time almost hung herself, when she was in it an aide would always have to be with her to keep from hanging herself:crying2:

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Oh, for goodness sakes, remove the strap and put her in a stationary chair when she starts sundowning.

They've been a Godsend to those residents who have them.

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Specializes in LTC, drug and alcohol rehab.
Oh, for goodness sakes, remove the strap and put her in a stationary chair when she starts sundowning.

They've been a Godsend to those residents who have them.

we would but she is one of those that does not sit still for every long

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properly fitted there should be no problem. if they tip over, they arent high enough. The only time i saw a problem was with a little old lady who had anger issues and drove herself into the wall hard enought she launched herself into it (the wall), resulting in quite a nice goose egg. Of course it was taken away at that point..

why was the guy sitting on the strap, instead of the seat? How is someone in danger of "hanging" themselves?

i cant picture the last.....

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Now that I am awake, here is more detail, In her w/c she had a voice alarm, didn't pay a bit of mind to it other than to tell it to shut up, Tried a lap buddy, no she could and would remove it, tried a soft lap belt, she complained but accepted it for the most part, but didn't like it. Now comes the Merry Walker, She steps over the strap and crawls under it, and wa-la This Res is fast a lightening, and we can find her anywhere. She has had several falls in the past few months, and I just think this contraption poises more danger to her then benefit. P.T. is just being totally unreasonable in listening to what we see in the evening, they insist that she can't get out of it, and it is very frustrating. I can see that these could benefit some, but not in this case. Thanks for all your input.

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Now that I am awake, here is more detail, In her w/c she had a voice alarm, didn't pay a bit of mind to it other than to tell it to shut up, Tried a lap buddy, no she could and would remove it, tried a soft lap belt, she complained but accepted it for the most part, but didn't like it. Now comes the Merry Walker, She steps over the strap and crawls under it, and wa-la This Res is fast a lightening, and we can find her anywhere. She has had several falls in the past few months, and I just think this contraption poises more danger to her then benefit. P.T. is just being totally unreasonable in listening to what we see in the evening, they insist that she can't get out of it, and it is very frustrating. I can see that these could benefit some, but not in this case. Thanks for all your input.

if she can climb over the strap, it is not properly fitted, or she is extremely agile and flexible.

has anyone seen her do this, or is it your assumption that this is what is happening?

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Specializes in LTC Family Practice.

Get permission to take some photos or video of her in the act, that might help your case.

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.

First, I will say that we don't use merri walkers any more, after several minor injuries (mostly to other residents) and finally a tip over incident. However, I'm

not ready to discard this as a beneficial tool for some, perhaps at different times of the day. If she's fine in it during the day, why not use it during the day? It doesn't have to be all or nothing. First, I'd approach PT and say something like, "we're having some issues with this chair on my shift. Can you show me how to properly place this resident in the chair?" This has a dual purpose: it not only rules out any technical issues, but it will make PT more receptive to the idea that there, indeed, are some issues during other times of the day. Maybe the merri walker is not always appropriate for this resident, maybe the resident needs to be walked or toileted when she tries to climb out.

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Oh, we have Houdinis in them, no question.

I know that the disciplines work together, but since when does PT get the final call on care-planning for safety? Maybe the guy needs a geri-chair in the evening, or a simple stationary chair. And to be in sight of the nurses' station.

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