Adult bed guards? Yes or no?

Some people have to get up in the night for the loo , a guard/rail would be very troubling for her , in fact my MIL climbed over it , further to fall . It is very claustrophobic being hemmed in . OH had bed sides on the hospital bed , but that was when he was unable to walk , poor man kept flinging his legs over the rails

I've got two of these from Amazon, not because I fall out of bed but because I'm waiting for a double total knee replacements and can't maneuver myself across the bed or out of the bed very well. I'm not particularly disabled in any way except by pain etc. These won't get in the way if she needs to get up but will allow her to steady herself as she gets out of bed. I can't see why anyone would attempt to climb over it when you can go around it. You're not hemmed in and it's very good at holding my mattress topper in place too.

www.amazon.co.uk/NRS-Healthcare-M48192-Support-Eligible/dp/B006679NTU/ref=sr_1_17_a_it?keywords=bed+guards+for+adults&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1530883464&sr=8-17

Oh and I don't use the straps under the mattress as there is no need and the mattress weighs a ton and I wouldn't be able to lift it, changing the sheets is enough of a challenge.

OT gave us one of those , very good for helping you turn over or steady you when getting up , OH never used it and I found him wrestling with it , but I use it and it was especially useful when I had my new hip done , but it won't stop her falling out of bed, we had the mat at the side of the bed which buzzed when stood on , but only useful to tell you when she is up wandering . You need to ask the. Doctor or the district nurse for advice

You can get pressure pads that set off an alarm to warn a carer that the person has got out of bed. There are ones that go in the bed, under the person, or ones for the side of the bed.

I was told, when my Mum was unwell, to wait until I was told by the hospital when to use the bed guard, until then It could be more dangerous for her to use one. Presumably because the tablets made her a bit groggy and they said she might just try to climb over it and then she would probably fall.

MIL has one at the moment, so she slides across the bed and gets in and out the other side as she hates it.

I asked for guards when my H came out of hospital after a stroke as he has dementia as well.
I couldn't have them in case he tried to climb out,which he would.
The same reason was given when I asked for a sedative for him, it is a fall risk if he gets dopey.
So I have to be aware a minimum of 20 hours a day, either in the room with him or lying awake as he roams the house for most of the night.

OH has a hospital bed at home. He has a rail on one side where it abuts the marital bed as was; and there is a small grab rail on the open side which helps him when getting out of bed and trying to turn over.

My Nan lived with me when she had dementia I got a rail as she started rolling out of bed She was a tiny thing about 6 stone and she used to pull the rail out from under the mattress sling it across the room then fall out of bed

My Mum's last medical problem was caused by falling out of bed. In a care home. She damaged her shoulder, went into hospital and died soon after. At 87.
Perhaps she should have had a rail, but she always wanted to remain independent as long as possible.
I fell out of bed a few months ago while staying at one of our sofasurfing abodes. Very narrow bed. but TG no injuries.

Care homes are no longer meant to use bedrails due to people falling further when they've climbed over to get out. Bed rails come in different lengths flexible friend. Often they put mattresses on the floor - so there isn't far to all at all but this makes it really difficult to get in and out.

Perhaps ask your mum if she feels she needs help. Point blank refusals arise sometimes because someone feels that have not been given any choice over whats going to happen. Perhaps talk about it a bit more and offer a few alternative solutions. Ask your mum what she feels might happen next time and if she has any ideas to prevent it. We all have the right to choose what we want even if that presents a risk that other people don't like or feel comfortable with.

Also - it's worth moving any furniture that is close to the bed is moved away to prevent injuries should she fall again.

annsixty I sympathise with you as I had identical problems with my late DH. Are you given respite? because you can't keep up with what you are having to do sevenxseven. Contact your local Adult Social Care They assisted me and I am sure they will for you.

I'm aware that bed rails come in different lengths as a quick look on even Amazon would reveal so not sure why that comment was aimed at me. I suggested the one I use as the OP said she fell why trying to get out of bed (she didn't say she fell out of bed ) although that's the way most seem to have taken it. If she's just a bit wobbly on rising hen the one I suggested would be ideal but if she's likely to throw herself over a bed rail obviously not.

I have a grab rail like flexiblefriend suggested. It is a godsend, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed without it! But it wouldn't prevent me from falling out of bed.
I'm sorry I don't have a solution to offer. A suggestion though , what about swimming noodles under the sheet at the edge of the bed? It won't stop an adult falling out of bed but will maybe make the sleeper aware they're near the edge of the bed.

I hope this idea might help Victoria1111.

Also instead of buying one of these exact ones you could use a swimming pool noodle. You place it under the fitted sheet at edge of the bed

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002NYC5LI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_z.hqBbST4Q99T?tag=gransnetforum-21

This one is from decathlon but you can get them anywhere

Anyway you can have one side if the bed against a wall. This reduces the problem 50%. Then basically create a bolster with sheets/blankets to run along the "open " side. Bed guards can be dangerous as folk can attempt to climb over them forgetting where they are. Mattress on floor at bedside to soften fall.

Bed guards are dangerous, how about some of the lovely suggestions or even a lower new bed? We are not in your home or have knowledge of your Mum. Could you make it a treat to get a new bed??

I like the grab rail ideas, but you could come at it from the other direction (as it were) and get the bed as low as practical - not so far to fall, and is there a nice soft surface to land on if you do tumble?

If she just needs help manoeuvring herself out of bed then the one Flexiblefriend suggested is what I would say try too. My husband had one and it was excellent. If you want something to stop her falling out of bed when she is lying down you need full length rails. He now has this, the nurses supplied a hospital type bed to him on loan. It also raises up which is a big help to me.

Bed rails are dangerous and not supposed to be used to prevent falls.

Hospital beds have them for when the bed is raised or being moved. The rails are down for people with falls risk factors (or at least should be)

My father (92) had to ones flexiblefriend pointed to ( on amazon) they were a great help as he couldn't stand up easily once he'd swung his legs around - with little strength he could push down on them.. and stand up safely ( my Mum (92) was too small/weak to lift him as he had expected her to B4 we got these) much better than when my FIL fell out of bed and got tangled in his bedding he laid on the floor for hours til he got help!