Safety and home
Bed rail
A bed rail is a side bar attached to a bed to help a person turn or get in and out. Adult portable bed rails can cause entrapment and injury. The FDA says they should not be used as a restraint.
Why it matters for your family
Bed rails seem like a simple fall fix, but they carry risk. The FDA reports many deaths and injuries from entrapment and falls tied to adult portable bed rails and hospital bed rails. It says they can be a hazard for people with physical limits or altered mental status, such as dementia or delirium, even when used as designed. A person can slip through a gap or climb over. Families should talk to a doctor or occupational therapist before using one. Lower beds, floor mats and bed alarms are options. A common mistake is to add a rail to a regular mattress without checking fit. Do not use rails to restrain anyone.
Source: fda.gov
Read more: Warning Signs Your Parents Need Help at Home
Related terms
- Hospital bedA hospital bed is an adjustable bed used at home for a person who needs help with positioning, rest or transfers.
- Fall preventionFall prevention is the set of steps that lower the chance an older adult will fall.
- Fall riskFall risk is the chance that a person will fall and be hurt.
- DementiaDementia is a group of symptoms, not one disease.
- Home safety assessmentA home safety assessment is a room-by-room check of a home for hazards that could cause falls or injuries.
- TransferringTransferring, as an activity of daily living, means moving between surfaces, such as bed to chair, chair to standing, or wheelchair to toilet.
