Best Bed Alarms for Fall Prevention / Best Falls Alarms

3 in 10 adults over age 70 have experienced a fall in the past year. 1 out of those 10 individuals has a serious injury due to the fall. In the US, 15% of ER visits are by people who have just experienced a fall. Visit any emergency room, and if even if there are merely seven patients sitting there, chances are, at least one of them is a senior, who came to the ER... because he fell down. 

After an older individual falls, in 50% of cases, he needs help getting up - he can’t do it on his own. So, what happens if the person falls down, and the caregiver is sleeping in the next room? No one has any clue what has occured. It’s not a pretty scenario. Sure, hopefully the caregiver comes by multiple times a night to be sure the patient is still safely sleeping, but in most situations, she doesn’t come by every few minutes. There’s no reason why a person should ever be stuck on the floor, terrified and in pain, unable to get up, if there’s a way to prevent such from being. And such can many times be prevented: By using a fall alarm for elderly patients. 

What is A Falls Alarm?

A falls alarm is a device that senses when a fall has occurred. It then sounds an alarm, which alerts the caregiver of the situation. Using a fall risk alarm is a proactive measure for anyone who believe themself or someone under their care may be at an increased risk of falling. 

How Do I Know If I May Be At Risk of Falling?

This is a question many people contemplate. To help people evaluate their risk of falling, and therefore enable them to do what it takes to stay safe, the CDC (Center for Diseases) has publicized a fall risk assessment chart, which was originally created by the Greater Los Angeles VA Geriatric Research Education Clinical Center. These questions were written based on content culled from the aforementioned chart. 

• Have I fallen recently?
• Does the doctor recommend I use a walking aid such as a walker or walking cane to get places?
• Do I often feel like I’m about to lose my balance while walking?
• Do I ever suffer anxious thoughts about falling?
• Do I lean or grab onto large items in the room (such as a table or dresser) as I’m walking?
• Do I sometimes feel unhappy, or moody?
• Do I take sleep aid medications or psychoactive (mood-related) medications?
• Do my feet often feel a little numb, like they’ve lost some feeling?
• Do I have trouble getting to the bathroom, and sometimes feel like I’ve barely made it in time?
• Is it hard for me to lift my legs and get up onto a curb?
• Do I find it very hard to get up from a chair without using my hands?
• Do I take meds that bring fatigue or lightheadedness?

If you answered no to at least eight of the aforementioned questions, you can relax! You don’t have a higher fall risk rate. But if you answered yes to four or more of them, know you’re not alone - many older individuals have a higher fall risk. And there are measures you can take to prevent a fall from occurring. 

Other Tips to Prevent Falls

Fall risk alarms are one piece of the plan, but there are many other details to take into account to ensure that falls don’t occur. Here are a few tips for preventing falls among elderly patients. The more ideas that are followed, the less likely falls are to occur. 

• Be sure the soles of the patient’s shoes have excellent traction, so that skidding to a fall won’t be as likely.
• Have the patient wear non-slip socks.
• Clear all obstacles on the floor in the patient’s room or living area.
• Be sure there is enough lighting so that the patient can see where he or she is going.
• Walking aids should be easily accessible to and within easy reach of the patient.
• Check on the patient periodically to ensure that he is safe, and all is well.
• Beds and chairs should be low so that they are easy for the person to get onto.

Bed Alarms and Fall Prevention: Do Bed Alarms Work?

Bed alarms mitigate fall risk, but only when used reasonably and properly. According to many researchers and medical professionals, fall risk alarms are effective when used right, by trained care professionals. However, fall alarms for elderly patients are not designed to be a standalone method to reduce the risk of falls - rather, they are to be one single component of a care strategy. If all there is is an alarm, and there is no specific caregiver who was told to listen out for the alarm, the alarm is rather redundant, obviously. So, when installed and used properly, falls alarms are a crucial and highly advantageous part of any comprehensive care plan to prevent falls. Of course, be sure to choose only one of the best bed alarms for fall prevention so that you’ll be more assured that it will last. 

FInd a fall prevention alarm that can help you or the patient under your care stay as safely independent as possible. Browse our selection of the best bed alarms for fall prevention, including Posey fall alarms and other dependable fall risk alarms known for their quality design, and choose one that fits your needs. Shop now! 

References:

Capezuti E., Brush B., Lane S., Rabinowitz H., Secic M. Bed-exit alarm effectiveness. Arch. Gerontol. Geriatr. 2009;49:27–31. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2008.04.007. 

Mileski M, Brooks M, Topinka JB, Hamilton G, Land C, Mitchell T, Mosley B, McClay R.

Alarming and/or alerting device effectiveness in reducing falls in long-term care (LTC) facilities? A systematic review. Healthcare (Basel) 2019;7(1):51. doi: 10.3390/healthcare7010051.