Bed Rails in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities help elderly loved ones receive the care and assistance they need. These facilities should be safe environments for patients. However, recent news stories have highlighted the danger and hazards of bed rails in nursing homes and other facilities.

According to a 2010 New York Times article, in 1995, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about the dangers of bed rail accidents.i Patients that attempt to climb over the rails increase the height of their fall and chance for severe injury. According to the FDA, entrapment, which occurs when patients become stuck between the bed rails or between a rail and the mattress, is a bigger risk to patients than a fall from climbing over the rails. Between 1985 and 2009, the FDA received reports of 803 incidents of patients caught, trapped, entangled or strangled in hospital beds.ii

Healthcare providers need to pay careful attention to the type of bed rails and beds used since some present higher risks of entrapment than others do. In addition, nursing homes and assisted living facilities need to decide whether using bed rails is an appropriate option on a case-by-case basis.

Despite the obvious risk of bed rails to patients, some nursing homes and other care facilities continue to ignore the warnings. It is still common to hear stories about elderly patients receiving injuries or even dying due to bed rail or entanglement issues. This continued ignorance is horrifying considering that these facilities have been trusted with the care of a vulnerable group.

If someone you love has been a victim of negligence in a nursing home or assisted living facility, you should consider your legal options with an experienced attorney. Call us today at 877-421-9173, use our online form, or visit our offices in Scranton, Harrisburg, Stroudsburg, Hazelton, Hamlin, Carbondale, or Plains.