Siderails in LTC

[jones58]

In the facility where I work we have been slowly eliminating siderails. State guidelines say that siderails are a restraint, also there is a risk of being entangled in rails. So we are replacing SR's with different interventions. Some patients have very low to the floor beds, and we are also using bed alarms, concave mattresses, and posey rolls, also landing pads in case all other measures fail.

If the facility that you work in is also doing this, what do you think of it? We had two people fall out of bed last weekend. The care plan for those two pts. was being followed, but it seems that the system that is suppose to protect them failed.

[sixes]

Siderails is considered a reatraint where I work also.

It is far better for a resident to fall out of a bed in it's lowest position then have them go over the rails.

We have low-low beds. 6" off the floor and low beds about 2' off the floor. they all raise to normal hieght s for nursing care.

The low-low beds also discourage getting up with out assistance as there knees are usually too bent to facility getting to a standing positon.

As for call bells being attached to lothing there is a risk that the resident will strangle themselves with it. we are allowed when we have an order to use siderails string it across the siderails at waist level to alert staff that they are trying to go over the rails. I have seen this method fail and injuries occur.

I wish someone would invent a tent like enclosure that could be attached to the bed frame, therby facilitating movement with out danger (no falls, no posey restraint, no siderails, no chemical restraint) and also be environmentally friendly, allowing the resident to see, hear and most of all not die of heat