No Restraints

February 13, 2009

Hi,

I am curious if those that have LOs in NHs if they are doing a no restraint law

too. A few months ago they brought new beds into the nh with no rails on them,

because our state, California, has a no restraint law. I had signed a waiver

that I wanted rails on my husband's bed since he does have weight bearing and

will attempt to stand up by himself without assistance and even try to walk,

which he can not. The waiver was ignored and when I arrived Jim had a bed with

no rails. Fortunately, there was one bed left in a vacated room with rails and

it was moved into Jim's room for him. Now, I heard a rumor from a nurse that

told me that no person can have a bed with rails and those remaining with rails

will have to have them removed. She told me not to say she told me, but she

suggested I talk to the DON about it. I am really concerned if they take the

rails off of Jim's bed, because of a state law and a waiver doesn't even matter.

Has the gov. gone brain dead?! There will be so many people attempting to stand

and falling, it can only lead to more frequent suing for LOs that have been

injured by falls or even death from falls. Is there anyone else experiencing

this law with their LO in a nh and what did you do? Even if Jim's bed is made

low to the floor, he knows how to grab for other things and will attempt to pull

to a stand especially, if he does not get help and no one can hear his whispery

calls for help and he doesn't know how to use the button for help and the other

two men in his room are just as oblivious to what is going on. I see this as a

big accident waiting to happen with no restraints. Is there any solution to this

madness?

Jan

February 13, 2009

Jan - My experience is with my father so it goes back a few years. He, like

others mentioned here, would try to scale over the top of the rails and fell on

several occasions, so his physician requested they be lowered and, at that time,

the nursing home refused.

The Drs' other recommendation was to put mattresses on either side of the bed,

so if he did fall, he would be cushioned. But, I really like the idea of the bed

being against the wall and a body pillow being used.

Good luck.

Helen

February 14, 2009

Hi precious Leona,

Your card sounds great! Simple enough to understand, getting the message

across, and cute too.

My Don has a rail on his bedside by the wall, but only a partial rail on the

front side.

With that full rail on the backside he can't fall between the wall and bed.

When his bed was out in the open he would get up and couldn't find his way to

the bathroom, and would use the wall. (I actually watched him once and he

kept feeling the wall, and the curtain at the foot of the bed, but didn't know

how to get around the curtain)

Pushing the bed against the wall has fixed that problem, and he can't fall

off that side. I feel good about that. So far he hasn't fallen out of bed. He

falls when he is already up. And, I really relieve it is because he gets too

wound up while arguing with Albert.

The other day, I had dressed him and was taking him out of the room when he

jerked away from me and went back to the curtain and looked around it and

fussed ugly at Albert. The poor old man doesn't have a chance. I just hope Don

doesn't hurt him. Maybe he has already and that is why he is now on 300mg of

Zoloft. The nursing home doesn't tell all that is going on by a long shot.

Enjoy your day,

Love a lot,

Imogene

In a message dated 2/14/2009 9:47:58 AM Central Standard Time,

lchere@... writes:

New York State is apparently pushing this " no restraints " business too. The

nursing home told me recently that the state is opposed to any bed rails.

They absolutely cannot be fastened in the bed or the chairs. Some people

with regular wheelchairs have the pads across the wheelchair, I have

noticed. The bed rails they have used with Ray are half rails. Two weeks

ago he tried to get out (with the rails being used. Somehow he got squeezed

down between the rail and the mattress and they had a terrible time getting

him out. He had bruises on his back--water blisters and what looked like

burns. They are just now getting healed. So they have revamped his care.

(this was already using bed alarm and pads on the floor) That alarm must

have gone off--where was everyone? No rails, the bed up against the wall

and another " personal " alarm which is fastened to the bed and to Ray and it

is a piercing screech when it goes off that nobody will be able to ignore.

He too, cannot push the button or call for help--probably wouldn't know if

he needed it.

It is a nice day for Valentine's Day so I will go see him and take him a

gift, a card and some food. The card looks like a King (playing card)on the

front--when you open it there is a heart pops up and written on it says: To

the King of my heart!!

He should be able to appreciate it, I hope. I got him a shaving lather

warmer which he has enjoyed in the past. The one I had originally at the

nursing home disappeared. Stupid place anyway. I hope you all have a good

day with your Valentines. Leona

Leona: Caregiver for husband Ray, age 67, diagnosed 2/04 with Parkinson's

Disease. Changed doctors, diagnosed 6/06 with LBD. Almost continual downhill

slide no matter what drugs we try. 5/2/08 Ray was placed in Sunrise Nursing

Home in Oswego, NY, 1 hour from home. So far, so good! Hardest thing I have

ever done in my life, however.

" Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. The way you

cope with it is what makes the difference. "

**************The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy

Awards. AOL Music takes you there.

(http://music.aol.com/grammys?ncid=emlcntusmusi00000004)

February 14, 2009