Bed Rails

Safety and convenience at home

Bed rails attach to the sides of the bed, in order to keep someone from falling onto the floor. Commonly used in hospitals, they are also used in private homes. With hospital bed rails, the mattresses and rails are fitted, but even then, occasionally the unthinkable happens. Problems can occur if the rail is ill fitting, as someone could get caught between the mattress and the bed rail. Another cause for concern is people trying to climb over the bed rails. Be sure you have the bed as low to the ground as possible to prevent falling. You may also want to consider adding a mattress pad that has a raised edge, giving one the feeling of boundaries.

Bed rails are still a good bet for patients who are in pain, have involuntary movements or even trouble with memory. The goal is to keep them in bed. Bed rails now come in a variety of lengths to accommodate just about every level of protection and aid needed. They come in walker-style lengths that are meant to help a person from a prone to a sitting position, or to assist with getting in and out of bed. Half-length and full-length bedrails provide varying degrees of protection from falling out of bed. There are also several types of adjustable bed side rails, which may extend in length, height or both. Some bed rails now come with cross bars, to prevent entanglement in the device.

Some things to keep in mind when purchasing safety bed rails are:

• How long will the person be unattended?
• How coherent is the person?
• How determined is the person to get out of bed?
• What exactly is the rail intended for?

Not all protective bed rails are created equal. Only you and your home health care professional can decide what is best. Many home equipment companies now offer assistance in choosing the best rails for the bed, as well. Knowing which bed rail to buy can save money, time and frustration, not to mention unneeded injuries. Once you know which type will work best, choosing should be fairly simple. Be sure to follow manufacturer’s recommendations and suggestions. With supervision and safe bed rails, a lot of accidents can be avoided.