Career Corner >> Nursing Specialization >> LTC - Dealing with falls - what's your best strategy?
LTC - Dealing with falls - what's your best strategy?
119 posts back to top |
Posted almost 6 years ago I used to work in LTC in the 80s, and dealing with patient falls took up about 25 percent of my day. We used to use Chair/Bed alarms to keep the patient in check, but that didn't stop him/her from ignoring it? What methods/devices are being used now to cut down on this pesky problem? |
|
Account Removed 
0 posts back to top |
| Posted almost 6 years ago As far as I know they are still using the alarms. |
|
2 posts back to top |
| Posted over 5 years ago INCREASED ACTIVITY PROGRAMS ARE EXTREMELY HELPFUL A GOOD DEMENTIA UNIT WILL HAVE ACTIVITY PROGRAMS SCHEDULED AT THE HIGHEST RISK TIMES USUALLY CHANGE OF SHIFT SCHEDULED TOILET BREAKS AFTER TRACKING A RESIDENT FALL IN RELATION TO AN INCONT EPISODE IF YOU CAN SHOW A TREND YOU CAN TOILET PRIOR TO THAT TIME THIS MAY BE HELPFUL SOMETIMES IT'S JUST ABOUT THE HAND HOLDING AND COMFORTING AND COMPANIONSHIP ALARMS ARE ONLY HELPFUL IF THE STAFF RESPONDS TO THEM IMMEDIATELY |
1086 posts back to top |
| Posted over 5 years ago I agree with the alarms. Just had a fall today. The res. had a motorized W/C and missed sitting on it while transferring from the toilet. I like the name "companionship alarms" better than bed alarm. |
|
150 posts back to top |
| Posted over 5 years ago i agree that bowel and bladder monitoring helps, activities to keep them occupied, alarms, bed bolsters, floor mat. answering the call lights is a must. check medications being ordered and be sure to monitor their responses. if confusion is observed, check the bowels and ask for u/a. continous reminder to ask resident to ask for assistance and doing rounds at least 3x during the 8 hour shift. |
202 posts back to top |
| Posted almost 4 years ago try to keep the patient in a busy area where he or she can be watched closely, toilet q2h and make sure the patient is able to be hyderated and comfortable check med list and make sure patient is not over sedated or medicated. watch for a pattern or behavior leading up to the fall include the patient in a activity that he or she may enjoy or feel comfortable with if the patient is a huge fall risk have a paper you check Q15 or Q30 on the where abouts and when the last time hey where taken care of include toileting eating and drinking,repositioned and where the patient is currently. there are also Bed alarms chair alarms and a million other restrants that are ok with a doctors order and with family ok. Becky Swannack |
|
202 posts back to top |
| Posted almost 4 years ago this is a topic from the past that I think should be discussed it is a great time to bring it up Becky Swannack |
