Soma or Enclosure Beds... Cruel or not?

[Paws2people]

At my hospital we use Soma beds. Usually for the safety of dementia patients, or confused elderly ones. For awhile we weren't allowed to use them because family members of the patients and some employees deemed them as cruel "cages." In my opinion it is better to have a patient in a Soma bed versus posey vests, or wrist restraints, leathers, etc. Plus we have more CNA's available on the floor. Prior to these beds we had a ton of safety care/one to ones, in which a CNA would sit with these patients 24/7.

What is your hospital's restraint procedure for confused patients? Do you find these beds useful, or cruel?

[FineAgain]

I personally think these beds are much kinder than any restraint and allow freedom of movement while reducing falls. I also don't think they should be considered a restraint but I see why they are.

Low beds...the patients still get up and out of them and they either fall or wander off. I think they are pretty much useless.

[elkpark]

I personally think these beds are much kinder than any restraint and allow freedom of movement while reducing falls. I also don't think they should be considered a restraint but I see why they are.

What would be the rationale for not considering them restraints? The Federal, legal definition of a restraint is (basically) anything that restricts the individual's movement, not just moving her/his limbs but also being able to move around (ambulate) freely. Posey beds obviously restrain people from getting up and walking around; that's the whole point of using them. How is that not a restraint? It's the same reason why a geri chair tray is a restraint if the person isn't able to release it her/himself in order to get up and walk around, or full side rails if the person wouldn't be able to put them down her/himself. The person's limbs aren't restrained, but their free movement is restricted.