Reasons Patients Fall:
1. Position, they were
sitting too long, lying on one side too long, they were
getting restless and
bored in their present surroundings so they had a
need to move their
position.
2. Personal needs/potty
3. Pain, so they were
becoming uncomfortable, aching and hurting, so they
needed to move to
relieve themselves of the pain.
4. Placement of their
personal items, their glasses were out of reach, the
tissue box or
telephone, call light button in reach: so it was the placement of a
personal item that
they were getting up
for that led to them falling.
Interventions:
FOLLOW CARE DIRECTIVES
- Appropriate activities through out day, allowing pt to walk as much as possible as part of their normal routine (to meals, to the toilet, to an activities), Standing during bingo, standing at table before meals, standing at rails in hallway
- and 3. Quick Response time to call lights (less than 5 mins, ideally 1-2 minutes), knowing your residence typical bowel and bladder habits and taking them during the time they normally need to go, adhering to timed toileting programs, noticing pre-toileting behaviors such as fidgeting, restlessness. Maintaining ROM programs. Timely pain medication management.
- a) Adequate lighting and access to overhead light if they are able to use. (http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/solidstate/cr_innovativeSolutions.asp)b) Correct height on bed = 90 degrees – never a low/high bed. Return bed height after changing linen.c) If you move anything in the room, return it to correct position (lock Wheelchairs, walkers close to/far from resident, return bed side commodes where they belong for that time of day)d) Appropriate use of bed transfer bars for mobility
Other Building
Strategies:
Consistent Staffing so
Nurses and CNA's know their residents
Spreading out Mon-Fri
staff (Rehab, Office, Admin...)
Appropriate use of
weighted dolls and blankets
Contrasting Toilet
Seats (black with white floors), Bright bed comforters, Bright shoes
on residence, brightly colored tubing on call lights, glasses and
other personal items
Appropriate use of
anti-roll back or automatically locking brakes on Wheelchairs
