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700,000 to 1 million hospitalized patients fall each year, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.1 No one wants to see their patients get hurt. In fact, CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) considers falls with injuries a “never event”.1 Fall prevention products can help keep your patients safe and reduce their risk of falls!
Fall Prevention Products for Patient Rooms
1. Patient Alarms
Patient fall alarms alert hospital staff when a patient begins to stand so they can intervene and prevent a fall. There are a variety of options available from the Magnetic Alarm that alarms when the cord that attaches to a patient’s clothes is pulled away from the alarm monitor to the Early Warning EZ Release Seat Belt which alarms when the wheelchair belt is opened.
Looking for an excellent patient alarm? The Sammons Preston Alarm Monitors might be the right fit for your hospital. The monitor alarms when weight is removed from the sensor pad and can be used with a nurse call button. Choose from Sammons Preston Bed Sensor Pads or Sammons Preston Chair Sensor Pads depending on your patient’s needs. Or get started with a Bed and Chair Alarm Set to get the monitor and pad together.
2. Side Rails
Side rails can help prevent patients from falling out of bed. The rails shouldn’t be used for patients with an altered mental status and you should make sure to fill the gap between the rail and the mattress using so your patients don’t accidentally get stuck or trapped. Rolyan Side Rail Pads fill the gap and add padding to the rails to keep your patients comfortable.
3. Gait Belts
Sammons Preston Gait Belts give nurses and hospital staff a place to hold onto and a way to offer support when patients are walking. If you’re looking to upgrade your gait belts, check out Sammons Preston Padded Gait Belts to enhance patient comfort. And if you’re worried about other departments borrowing and keeping your belts, use Departmental Gait Belts that have the department name on the belt so they don’t get mixed up or misplaced.
4. Hip Protectors
Protect your patients from hip fractures using Original Hipshield Hip Protectors. The padded protectors cushion hip bones and reduce the risk of a painful break if a fall should happen.
5. Non-Slip Socks
One effective universal fall precaution is making sure your patients are wearing non-slip shoes or socks at all times. Single-Tread Slippers are comfortable and have non-slip treads on the bottom of the socks to reduce your patients’ chance of falls. If you’re worried about socks getting twisted, use Double-Tread Slippers that have non-slip treads on both sides. Choose the one size fits all red socks to make it easy to identify potential fall risk patients.
6. Grab Rails
Install grab bars, like the Homecraft Chrome-Plated Steel Grab Bars, in patient rooms so they have a place to hold onto for support. These stylish grab bars will fit any hospital’s decor.
7. Fall Prevention Mats
Give your patients extra grip with the latex free Dycem Fall Prevention Mat. The high tack surface is great for transfers from a sitting to a standing position and is easy to clean.
8. Fall Mats
Worried about patients falling out of bed? If bed rails aren’t the right fit, consider Rolyan Fall Mats. Attach the mat securely to the hospital bed using hook and loop straps to reduce slippage.
Just wipe the fall mats clean using a mild soap and/or disinfectant (no bleach).
Fall Prevention Products for Patient Bathrooms
9. Toilet Surrounds
Reduce falls in the bathroom with the Homecraft Adjustable Toilet Surround. This height-adjustable frame provides a sturdy place for patients to grip when sitting and standing from the toilet.
10. Grab Rails
Add grab rails throughout your patient’s bathroom so they always have a convenient place to hold on to for support. Thanks to the textured surface,the Homecraft Textured Insulated Grab Rails will keep your grip from slipping even while wet.
If your bathroom has limited space and you want to add more support, try the Homecraft Drop Down Rail. The rail fits beside the toilet and can be folded when not in use.
11. Commodes
A 3-in-1 commode, like the Homecraft Heavy Duty 3-in-1 Commode, can be used bedside or positioned over the toilet to act as a toilet surround. The higher height makes it easier for patients to sit and stand with less bending. Or if you’re looking for a versatile option, try the Homecraft Ocean Wheeled Shower Commode Chair. This commode can also be used as a shower chair to reduce your patients’ risks of slips on the wet floor.
12. Bath Mats
Another way to keep your patients safe from slips and falls? We’ve got you covered with the Homecraft Sure Tread Bath Mat and the Homecraft Shower Mat. These non-slip mats help keep your patients on their feet while bathing.
13. Shower Chairs
Having your patients sit in the shower is another way to reduce falls. The Homecraft Shower Chair w/ Back & Padded Removable Arms is a great option to help keep your patients safe. The arms can be used for support or removed to make transfers easier. Plus, the chair is easy to clean. If your hospital has larger patients, consider the wider Homecraft Heavy Duty Shower Stool. The sturdy chair supports up to 450 pounds.
Fall Prevention Products for Physical Therapy (Rehabilitation Services)
14. Balance Products
Good balance is an important part of keeping patients on their feet and preventing falls. The TheraBand Stability Disc is the perfect place to start. The wobble cushion can be placed on a chair and used to improve seated balance. From there, the inflated TheraBand Stability Trainers can be used to work on standing balance.
Is your patient ready for more of a challenge? TheraBand Rocker and Wobble Boards will test your patient’s balance. The rocker board can be used for front-to-back and side-to-side practice while the wobble board has 360º of instability.
The Rolyan BEEP Board is similar to the TheraBand Rocker Board, but it offers feedback in the form of beeps. The board will beep after you rock to one side and then beep again once you rock to the other side, prompting weight shifting and helping ensure your patients are completing their balance exercises properly.
15. Strengthening Products
Lower leg strength can also have an impact on your patient’s gait stability and likelihood of falls. TheraBand CLX Resistance Bands are an easy way to work on strengthening your patient’s lower extremities. Try exercises like a seated calf press or an ankle plantarflexion or dorsiflexion.
Improve your patient’s walking gait through practice. Get your patients up and moving on a treadmill! Not sure where to start when looking at so many options? The Matrix T3xh Clinical Treadmill has handrails with angled grips and a low 7.5” step height to make getting on and off the treadmill easier.
You should also check out the SCIFIT AC5000M Treadmill. The adjustability of the treadmill speed makes it an ideal choice for all patients. It starts at 0.1 mph (0.2 km) which is adjustable in 0.1 increments up to 12mph (19 kmh). Plus, it can be used for reverse and downhill training.
16. Hi-Lo Treatment Tables
Treatment tables are an important piece of physical therapy equipment. Hi-Lo tables, like the Metron Plus Deluxe Hi-Lo Mat Platform with Roll, can be lowered, making it easier and more accessible for patients who can’t reach a standard table height. The table can then be raised to the proper, comfortable height for therapists to perform manual therapy.
Hi-Lo treatment tables also come in bariatric options for larger patients. The Metron Elite Bariatric Hi-Lo Mat Platform with Roll can powerlift 500 pounds and withstand 1,000 pounds of static weight.
17. Stairs
Stair use is another factor associated with an increased fall risk. Teach your patients how to safely navigate the stairs using the Metron Value Convertible Staircase. This staircase can be converted from a straight to a corner arrangement. Handrails and non-slip treads make this staircase a safer option when practicing walking up and down stairs and turning and rotating while on the stairs.
Find out more about fall prevention!
These fall prevention products are a good way to get started on keeping your patients safe and reducing falls in your hospital. Don’t stop now. From fall prevention strategies to facts about falls, keep reading to learn more about how to prevent patient falls.
References
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2019). Falls. U.S. Department of Healthcare Research and Quality. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2KuOCKY
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