My DH is now in a NH and (mostly) has adjusted fairly well. I am impressed and thankful for the care he is receiving. I (and the NH) need advice on a new behavior he is exhibiting..around 1000000 times per day. He keeps trying to stand up from his wheelchair. Over and Over and Over. and of course, he is unable to stand, so he falls.
They have one of those alarms on him, try to re-direct his attention, put him in a different chair...
He has been on Exelon 12 mg for over 6 years..probably not working anymore He is on 100 mg Seroquel in AM and 150 mg at nite.
cant a form of restraint like the lap belt be used if ORDERED by a dr as a security issue for the patient? i would ask the dr in charge. i knowif they do order it and its used they have to be checked frequently and documented. i think that in itself is a deterrment to alot of facilities just keeping up with paperwork. if they wont use something like a dinner tray or such to keep him seated then i would ask for more meds so he doesnt fall. broken hips bones arent something we need to have on top of AD. its a tossup, safety or more meds. divvi
I'm not up on the law in all states, but I do know it's not just Florida. I can't tell you how many times my stepmother fell out of bed because railings on the bed were considered illegal "restraints", and that was in Rhode Island. Then they put an alarm on her, so they would KNOW when she fell out of bed. ?????????????????????????
Sheltifan,
I agree with divvi. Find a doctor who knows the law and can get a lap belt legally.
Sheltifan, ask the NH about a Merry Walker.....you can look it up on the internet....it is like a playpen on wheels...and there is a seat. They may have one he could try or maybe they could get one....
From my discussion with the nursing staff and Doctors on staff...Merry Walkers, lap belts and tray tables are considered restraints. They can be used on Dr's written orders in a hospital, but are in no way allowed in a NH. Go figure. It is also illegal to use chemical restraints...drugs... Who came up with these laws? Certainly not the family of deeply demented loved ones. I am all for a lap belt, or Merry Walker..let me sign a form... let us HELP him.
I guess there have been many who mis-used these devices...but I need my guy safe and he can't understand what is wrong with his behavior...he CAN'T stop it...He is BROKEN. So will one of his hips, one of these times. In no way do I blame the care he is getting...they are doing a great job, bu right now he is a big mess mentally.
Sheltifan, it is the same here. But they do allow bedrails....that is just common sense! It is so frustrating......I know the nursing home where Lynn is has different types of "wheelchairs" to help aid in the different needs of their patients. Where they can't restrain, many of the folks who are fall risks, I see are in a comfortable reclining position. I assume this would make it harder to stand up and out of the chair.
Lynn has this chair for the tension support it offers. It helps with pressure points and allows the air circulation. It has been a great tool and he is soooo comfortable in it! These chairs are called a Broda Chair.... you can look it up here.....
http://www.brodaseating.com/
if you scroll down, you will see a collage of the chairs, Lynn doesn't need all of the padding so his looks like the lounge chair. They have chairs for all different needs. I was doing a quick search and it said the Gliders are designed for fall prevention.
Sheltifan -I am so sorry you are going through this. Charlie was the same way, determined to stand, destined to fall. The nursing home was allowed to use a merry walker with doctor's orders and my consent. When that no longer worked (he upset it) they put him in a wheelchair with a velcro seat belt. Again it needed doctor's orders and my consent. The belt was considered "self releasing" since simply pulling on it opened it. It worked well for Charlie since he couldn't open it. It is so stupid that laws prevent these people from being kept safe.
Have I been living under a rock? I had no idea that 'seat belts', bed rails and other types of safety restrains were considered inappropriate or illegal in some areas. For heaven's sake, I thought all hospital beds had side rails...at least the ones did when I was (seldom) in the hospital over the years.
That's the craziest thing I have ever heard. We're not talking about handcuffs and leg irons...we're talking about seat belts that are mandatory if you are driving a car.
Who makes up these crazy rules anyway? I continue to believe I woke up on a different planet one day and although the people and places look the same, nothing is really the same anywhere, anymore. Rules change, children curse, bully, lie and steal, parents aren't allowed to spank, teachers are wrong until proven right, people who can work, don't work and get enabling paychecks and food stamps, movie stars can appear in public practially nude and get applauded for their (lack of) clothes, (didn't there used to be a law re: Indecent Exposure?" ..
What is the name of THIS planet and how did I get here?
omg nancyB* you are so funny and sadly..so right. Especially the "seat belt's" that are law in the car..but not allowed in NH. Never made that connection b4.
The only thing I know about this planet is..I sure know lots of people with dementia